MEMOIRS 

OF THE LATE REVEREND 

THEOPHILUS LINDSEY, M.A. 

» 

INCLUDING 

A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF HIS WORKS; 

TOGETHER WITH 

ANECDOTES AND LETTERS OF EMINENT PERSONS, 
HIS FRIENDS AND CORRESPONDENTS : 

ALSO 

A GENERAL VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF THE 
UNITARIAN DOCTRINE IN ENGLAND 
AND AMERICA. 

'<|\' 187! 
BY THOMAS RELSHAM, 

MINISTER OF THE CHAPEL IN ESSEX-STREET. 



Simulacra vultus, imbecilla ac mortalia ; forma mentis, sterna, 
quam tenere et exprimere tuis ipse moribus possis. 

Tacitus, 

Care .... Vale. At veniet felicius aevum 
Quando iterum tecum, sim modo dignus, ero. 

Lowth. 



SECOND EDITION, CORRECTED. 



LONDON: 
PRINTED FOR ROWLAND HUNTER, 

SUCCESSOR TO MR. JOHNSON, 

no. 72, st, Paul's church-yard, 
1820, 



7 



Richard and Arthur Taylor, Printers, Slue-Z,ane,'London. 



PREFACE. 



The publication of this tribute of respect to the memory 
of a highly venerated friend has been delayed beyond 
expectation, partly by a necessary attention to other pub- 
lications, but chiefly by the time which was occupied in 
the perusal of letters and other documents, which far ex- 
ceeded what was antecedently supposed to be requisite. 

The events which occur in the life of a scholar and a 
pastor seldom possess novelty and variety sufficient to 
excite public attention. Those of Mr. Lindsey's life, 
indeed, were of no common complexion. But the chief 
design of publishing this Memoir is to exhibit the pic- 
ture of an eminently virtuous, pious, and disinterested 
mind in circumstances of great difficulty and perplexity, 
as an example to others who may find themselves in si- 
milar difficulties, and as an encouragement to sacrifice 
every secular consideration in the cause of religious 
truth, and to prefer the performance of duty and the 
approbation of conscience to all the honours and emolu- 
ments which the world can offer. It was also the authors 
design to mark the progress of that glorious cause which 
lay nearest to the heart of this venerable man, that of a 
long-lost and almost-forgotten truth, the proper Unity 
of God, and the supreme unrivalled undivided homage 
which is due to the Father alone : a cause for which he 

a 2 



iv 



PREFACE. 



voluntarily sacrificed all his secular possessions and ex- 
pectations, to the promotion of which he devoted all his 
labours, and in testimony to which he would, if needful, 
have cheerfully laid down his life. Happily, he lived in 
an age which was enlightened and liberal beyond all that 
preceded it : and though some alarm was excited, and 
some risk incurred, when he first opened a chapel for 
Unitarian worship, he met with no real impediment or 
molestation in the discharge of his official duties : and he 
lived to see the time, when, in consequence of the in- 
creasing knowledge and liberality of the age, owing in 
great measure to his unwearied and successful exertions, 
the profession of Unitarianism ceased to be regarded 
either as singular or hazardous. 

It was also the design of the author to communicate 
some information relative to other generous advocates of 
the same righteous cause, some of whom were also suf- 
ferers for truth. Among these are Dr. William Robert- 
son, Mr. Tayleur of Shrewsbury, and, above all, Dr. 
Priestley, whose letters cannot be perused by any feeling 
and intelligent reader without great interest and sympathy 
with the venerable exile : and it cannot but excite astonish- 
ment in every serious and reflecting mind, that such a 
person should not have been allowed to end his days in 
peace in his native country. But Providence had wise 
and good ends to answer by permitting this afflicting 
event, some of which are sufficiently apparent ; so that 
Dr. Priestley might justly say to his enemies and perse- 
cutors, as Joseph said to his brethren, " It was not you 
that sent me hither, but God." 

The author very much regrets that the fespectable re- 



PREFACE. 



v 



lict of Mr. Lindsey did not live to see this work complete, 
and to give her sanction to the narrative. But it may be 
some satisfaction to the reader to know that the first 
eight chapters were written some time ago, and were 
read over as they were finished to Mrs. Lindsey, who ex- 
pressed her kind approbation of them, and her decided 
attestation to the truth of the facts stated in them. And 
the author flatters himself that no circumstances will be 
found in the remainder of the narrative which are not 
supported by sufficient testimony. 

By far the greater part of the materials from which 
this Memoir is composed were supplied to the author 
by Mrs. Lindsey, for the express purpose of selecting 
from them what might be interesting and useful. To 
other friends and correspondents of Mr. Lindsey he 
is indebted for the rest ; and on this account he ac- 
knowledges his particular obligations to the Rev. Wil- 
liam Turner, of Newcastle, and the Rev. Dr. Toul- 
min, of Birmingham. Of these materials, he trusts, 
it will appear that he has not made an indiscreet use. 
There is no living friend of Mr. Lindsey, from whose 
correspondence he has made more copious extracts than 
from the letters of the Rev. Dr. Freeman, of Boston in 
New England : but these are of a public nature, relating 
wholly to the state and progress of the Unitarian doc- 
trine in America ; and they do great credit to the ability 
and the piety of the writer, who, it is hoped, if he should 
chance to hear of this Memoir, will pardon the liberty 
which the author has taken with the letters which he ad- 
dressed to his venerable friend. 

This Memoir will be of little interest to any but those 



* 



vi 



PREFACE. 



to whom a calm impartial inquiry into the. sacred Scrip- 
tures is a consideration of supreme importance, and by 
whom the firm undaunted profession of christian truth is 
regarded as among the first of duties. To these the au- 
thor hopes it will not be unacceptable ; to their candour 
he commends it ; and if they derive any portion of that 
satisfaction and advantage from the perusal, which he has 
done from the composition of the Memoir, they will not 
have read, nor he written, in vain. 

Essex House, 
July 16//*, 1812. 



POSTSCRIPT TO THE SECOND EDITION. 

The Author has republished the Memoirs of Mr. Lindsey with- 
out any material alteration, excepting the addition of an Appen- 
dix to the Ninth Chapter. This Chapter having been republished 
separately in America, gave rise to a warm controversy at Boston 
and in its vicinity : which, though it does not make it necessary 
to introduce any considerable change in the state of facts, has 
rendered it expedient for the Author, in his own vindication, to 
show that he has not used his terms in any new or unusual sense; 
and much less that he has affected to set himself up as the head 
of a religious party, 

Essex House, 
March 23d, 1820. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER L 

Account of Mr. Lindsey from the time of his birth to his set- 
tlement at Catterick, in Yorkshire. 

Mr. Lindsey born at Middlewich, p. I.— early noticed and patronized by 
Lady Betty and Lady Ann Hastings, p. 2. — and by Lady Huntingdon, ibid. 
— Anecdotes of Lady Huntingdon, ibid. note. — Mr. L. educated under Mr. 
Barnard at Leeds, p. 3. — spends his vacations with Lady Ann Hastings at 
Ashby Place, ibid. — where his mother when she became a widow lived and 
died, ibid.— Mr. L. admitted at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he 
greatly distinguished himself by his proficiency and good morals, p. 4.— and 
is intrusted by the Bishop of Lincoln with the superintendancy of his grand- 
son Richard Reynolds, Esq. which laid the foundation of long and mutual 
friendship, ibid. — Mr. L. ordained by Bishop Gibson, and presented by Sir 
G. Wheeler to a chapel in Spital Square, p. 5. — is recommended by Lord 
Huntingdon as domestic chaplain to the Duke of Somerset, ibid.— treated 
with great kindness and friendship by the Duke and his family, p. 6. — ac- 
companies Lord Warkworth to the continent, ibid.-— and upon his return is 
presented by the Earl of Northumberland to the living of Kirkby Whiske, 
p. 7. — becomes acquainted with Archdeacon Blackburne, p. 9. — at the de- 
sire of Lord Huntingdon Mr. L. resigns the living of Kirkby for that of Pid- 
dletown, ibid. — marries Miss Elsworth, ibid. — begins to entertain scruples 
concerning the Trinity, ibid. — and forms a design of retiring from the 
church, p. 10. — declines the solicitations of the Duke and Dutchess of Nor- 
thumberland to accompany them to Ireland, ibid. — by the interest of Lord 
Huntingdon he is permitted to exchange the living of Piddletown for the 
vicarage of Catterick, p. 12. — Mr. L., now become a Unitarian, reconciles 
himself to subscribing the Articles, and using the Liturgy, p. 12. — his rea- 
sons for this conduct stated by himself, p. 14.— shelters himself under Dr. 
Wallis's account of the Trinity sanctioned by the University of Oxford, p. 17- 
— but upon reflection does not approve his own conduct, p. 19. — Mr. Lind- 
sey's manner of performing his parochial duties at Catterick, where he con- 
tinues ten years, ibid. — Mrs. Cappe's testimony to his zeal and success, p. 21 . 

CHAPTER II. 

From Mr. Lindsey's settlement at Catterick, to his resignation 
of that vicarage A. D. 1773. 

Mr. Lindsey becomes dissatisfied with his reasons for conformity, p. 23. 
— he is introduced by Archdeacon Blackburne to Mr. Turner of Wakefield, 
and Dr. Priestley, p. 24. — State of Mr. L.'s feelings, p. 27- — Dissenters not 
likely to receive him cordially, p. 28. — Cowper's censure and Orton's ap- 
plause of Mr. L.'s conduct, ibid. note. — Mr. L. not satisfied with altering the 
ehurch service, p. 30. — Resolves upon resignation of his living, p. 31. — is 
encouraged by the example of the ejected ministers, p. 32. — and of Dr. W. 
Robertson, ibid. — Mr. L. defers his resignation on account of the clerical 
petition, p. 34. — Origin of this petition, ibid.— Mr. L.'s great exertions to 



viii 



CONTENTS. 



procure signatures to it, p. 35. — the number small, but respectability great, 
p. 37- — Mr. Lee's account of the unfavourable aspect of the case, p. 38. — 
and of the manner in which it was supported in and received by the House 
of Commons, p. 39. — Sir George Savile's speech from Dr. Furneaux's notes, 
p. 42. note. — Mr. Lindsey's account of the same debate, p. 44. — Mr. Pickard 
and Dr. Furneaux take encouragement from what passed to summon the 
general body of dissenting ministers to apply to parliament for relief from 
subscription, p. 45. — Account of the Rev. Edward Pickard, late minister of 
Carter Lane, ibid. note. — Dissenting ministers succeed in their application, 
p. 48. — Mr. L. confirmed in his resolution by reading Calamy, ibid. — deter- 
mines that he will delay no longer, p. 50. — his state of mind, p. 51.— 
preaches the assize sermon at York, p. 53. — visits Alnwick Castle, ibid. — - 
reflections upon this visit, p. 54.— Mr. L. communicates his intention to 
Archdeacon Blackburne, p. 55. — to Dr. Jebb, p. 56. — and to Dr. Markham, 
his diocesan, p. 58. — declines Mr. Turner's proposal of recommending him 
to the Octagon Chapel at Liverpool, p. 59. — takes leave of two of his cha- 
pels a p. 60. — and is prevailed upon to publish his Farewell Discourse, ibid. 
note. — Distress of his parishioners at parting with their minister, ibid. note. 
— Some account of Dr. Chambers, p. 62. note. — Poverty of Mr. Lindsey, 
p. 63.— Dr. Markham dissuades Mr. L. from resigning his living, but in vain, 
ibid. — Mr. Lindsey resigns his vicarage, ibid.-- and leaves Catterick in the 
month of December 1773, p. 64. 

CHAPTER III. 

. From Mr. Lindsey's resignation of Catterick, to his opening the 
Chapel in Essex-street. 

Mr. Lindsey treated with coldness by former friends, p. 64. — Mr. and 
Mrs. Lindsey visit Mrs. Harrison, p. 65. — Mr. Turner, ibid. — and Mr. Ma- 
son, ibid. — Mr. L. violently attacked by Dr. W. Cooper, p. 66. note.- — and 
defended by Mr. Cappe and Mr. Turner, ibid. — sells his library for his sub- 
sistence, ibid. — visits Dr. Disney, p. 67. — and transcribes Dr. S. Clarke's 
alterations in the Liturgy, ibid. — visits Dr. Chambers, at Achurch, where he 
finishes his Apology, ibid. — hopes for cooperation from Dr. Jebb, p. 68. — and 
has great promises of support in\London, ibid. — visits Mr. Reynolds at Pax- 
ton, p. 70. — where he hears of the death of his friend Thomas Hollis,Esq. ibid. 
note. — Mr.and Mrs. Lindsey arrive in London, p.71- — visit atDr.Ramsden's, 
and take lodgings in Featherstone Buildings, ibid. — sell their plate to pro- 
vide necessaries, ibid.— M r.L. soon meets with friends, ibid. — Samuel Shore, 
Esq. of Norton Hall, p. 72. — Robert Newton, Esq. of Norton House, ibid. 
note. — Mr. Johnson secures the house in Essex-street, p. 73. — Mr. Lindsey's 
state of mind, ibid. — declines an invitation to Norwich, p. 74. — improves 
upon Dr. Clarke's Liturgy, ibid. — Obstructions threatened from the civil 
power, p. 75. — the magistrates object to licensing the chapel, p. 78. — Mr. 
Lee demands it as a matter of right, p. 79. — and obtains a promise of it from 
the bench, p. 80.— which promise v/as not fulfilled, ibid. note. 

CHAPTER IV. 

From the first opening of the Chapel, to the purchase of the 
premises^ and the erection of the present building in Essex- 
street. 

The chapel opened, p. 81. — Account of it by Mr. Lindsey, ibid. — by Mr. 
Le^, ibid. note. — Lord Le Despencer subscribes to it, p. 82. — How far Mr. 
L. receded from the church service, ibid.— Analysis of the sermon preached 
and printed on the occasion, p. 83. — Mr. L. in a manner pledges himself 



CONTENTS. 



A' 



not to introduce controversy into the pulpit/p. 84. — Evil consequences ct 
equivocal preaching stated and exemplified, p. 85. note. — Success of doc- 
trinal instruction, p. 86. — Mr. Lindsey obliged to violate his rule, p. 87. — 
Early hearers of Mr. Lindsey, ibid. — Mr. and Mi s. Rayner, ibid. — Sir George 
Savile, p. 89. — Michael Dodson, Esq. ibid,— Robert Martin Leake, Esq. and 
others, ibid. — Sir Barnard Turner's letter and liberal contribution, ibid.™ 
Mr.L.'s great satisfaction and peace of mind, p. 90. — Mr.L.'s conduct gives of- 
fence to some of the associated clergy, p. 91.— he is accused of mercenary 
views, p. 93. — his defence, ibid. — Mr. Lindsey's Apology attacked by Mr. 
Burgh, p. 94. — whose work is approved by Mr. Mason and Dr. Hurd, p. 95. 
note. — he is also attacked by Mr. Bingham and Dr. Randolph, p. 96. — to all 
which he replies in the Preface to his Sequel, ibid. — Mr. Lindsey publishes 
the Sequel to his Apology, ibid. — Analysis of that elaborate work, p. 96.— Mr. 
L. desires a colleague, p. 98. — applies to Dr. Jebb, who declines the pro- 
posal, p. 99. — Moderate income and liberal spirit of Mr. L., ibid. note. — 
Generosity of Mr. Smith, now Lord Carrington, and others, ibid. — Mr. L. 
applies to other clergymen to join him in the chapel service, but without 
success, p. 100. 

CHAPTER V. 

From the erection of the building in Essex-street, to the appoint- 
ment of Dr. Disney to be the colleague of Mr. Lindsey in 
1783. 

House and chapel erected in Essex-street, p. 100. — Mrs. Lindsey's acti- 
vity and zeal, p. 101. note. — Brief account of William Tayleur, Esq. of 
Shrewsbury, p. 102. — of Richard Kirwan, Esq. P.R.S.I. p. 104. — Mr. L. in 
quiet possession of his dwelling-house and chapel, p. 105. — seized with a 
dangerous fever, p. 106. — his reflections upon recovery, ibid. — The author's 
reflections upon his first hearing Mr. Lindsey preach in 1 779, p. 107. — Mr. 
L. no party writer, but a zealous whig in politics, and opposer of the Ame- 
rican war, p. 10S.— publishes his two Dissertations on the Preface to St. 
John's Gospel, and on Prayer to Christ, p. 110.— with a Postscript by Dr. 
Jebb, p. 111.— Mr. L. publishes The Catechist, p. 112.— regrets the title, 
which has misled many as to the intention of the work, ibid- note.— Analy- 
sis and specimen of The Catechist, p. 113. — Dr. Disney unexpectedly offers 
to join Mr. L. in his labours in Essex-street, p. 114.- the proposal embraced 
with joy by Mr. L., ibid. — Mr. L.'s liberality, p. 115. — and Mrs. Rayner's ex- 
traordinary generosity upon this occasion, ibid.— Mr. L.'s communication to 
Dr. Toulmin, ibid. — Great prosperity of the Unitarian congregation at Bir- 
mingham, under the care of the Rev. Dr. Toulmin and the Rev. J. Kentish, 
ibid. note. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Mr. Lindsey publishes the Historical View. Some account of 
Dr. William Robertson. Society for promoting the knowledge 
of the Scriptures. 

» Mr. L. publishes an Historical View of the Unitarian Doctrine and Wor- 
ship, p. 117.— tbe execution different from the original plan, ibid, note.— to 
be regretted tbat he did not accomplish his design of treating on the pleas 
of Unitarians for attending Trinitarian worship, ibid. note. — Design of the 
work, p. 119. — Analysis of its contents, ibid.— Bishop Law's letter of thanks, 
p. 121. note.— sends Mr. L. a present of anew edition of his Theory, purged 
from prejudices relative to the pre-existence of Christ, ibid, note.— Dr. Ro- 
bertson's death, ibid.— interesting account of that venerable confessor, by 



X 



CONTENTS. 



Thomas Hollis, Esq. under the signature of Pierce Delver, ibid. — Bishop 
of Ferns's (afterwards Primate Robinson) remarks upon Dr. Robertson's 
scruples, p. 123.— Dr. R. appointed by the Merchant Taylors' Company to 
the Free Grammar School at Wolverhampton, p. 124. — Extraordinary ge- 
nerosity of a country clergyman, Rev. W. Hopkins, to Dr. R. ibid, note.— 
Dr. R. applied to by Mr. L. to become his colleague in Essex-street, p. 125. — 
declines it on account of a threatened prosecution at Wolverhampton, which 
he determines to brave, p. 126. — his admirable letter upon the occasion, 
ibid. — reflections, p. 127- — happy termination of the affair, p. 128. — Apology 
for Dr. R.'s violent expressions against the Catholics, which do not apply 
to present times, p. 130. note. — Institution of a Society for promoting the 
knowledge of the Scriptures 1 , p. 131. — Plan drawn up by Dr. Jebb, ibid. — 
does not succeed according to expectation, ibid. — publishes two volumes of 
Commentaries and Essays, p. 132. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Controversy with Robert Robinson. Analysis of the Vindiciae 
Priestleyana?. Misunderstanding and reconciliation with Dr. 
Price. 

Rev. Robert Robinson publishes a Plea for the Divinity of Christ, p. 133. 
— plausible and candid, but weak and trivial, ibid. — much applauded both 
by churchmen and dissenters, p. 134. — Dr. Furneaux and Dr. Kippis not 
dazzled by it, p. 135. — Archdeacon Blackburne thinks it unanswerable, ibid. 
— Mr. Lindsey urged to reply to it, p. 137. — publishes an Examination of 
Mr. Robinson's Plea, p. 138. — analysis of the work, ibid. — complete success 
of the Reply, p. 140. — Mr. Robinson stung by the answer, ibid. — but con- 
vinced, and becomes a decided Anti-trinitarian, p. 141. — Mr. Robinson no 
enemy to Scripture criticism, though he sometimes expresses himself un- 
guardedly, ibid. note. — Uncertainty as to Mr. R.'s final sentiments, but pro- 
bably perfectly Unitarian, p. 142. — certainly no Arian, p. 144. note. — Mr. 
R.'s friends do not allow that he was a proper Unitarian, ibid. — Mr. Lindsey 
publishes his Vindiciae Priestleyanas, p. 146. — The reasons which induced 
him, ibid. — Analysis of the work, p. 147. — Mr. Kirwan's testimony to Dr. 
P.'s talents, ibid. — Mr. L.'s character of P. Courayer, p. 149. — and of Bishop 
Butler, p. 150. — Bishop Butler's letter to the Dutchess of Somerset, and 
Her Grace's remarks, ibid. note. — Mr. L.'s testimony to the benevolence of 
the Creator, p. 152. — Offensive remark with respect to Dr. Price, p. 153. — 
Dr. Price's letter, ibid. — and Mr. Lindsey's reply and retractation, p. 154.-— 
the misunderstanding cleared up, ibid. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Analysis of Mr. Lindsey's second Address. Dr. Watts an Uni- 
tarian. Mr. Lindsey's alarm at Dr. Priestley's bold assertions, 
and ultimate conversion to his doctrines. 

Mr. Lindsey publishes a second Address to the Students of Oxford and 
Cambridge, p. 156. — Analysis of the work, p. 157- — proves Justin Martyr 
to have been the inventor of the commonly-received doctrine of the Logos, 
p. 158. — Catalogue of false readings published separately, p. 160. — Dr. 
W T atts believed by many to be a Socinian, p. 161. — probably did not believe 
himself to be one, p. 162.— his last papers destroyed contrary to the judge- 
ment of Dr. Doddridge, ibid. — his pathetic address to the Deity, p. 163. — 
Dr. Lardner believed Dr. Watts to be a proper Unitarian, ibid, note.— he 
assigns his reasons in a letter to the Rev. Samuel Merivale, ibid. — Mr. L. 



CONTENTS. 



XI 



disapproves of Dr. Priestley's language concerning the inspiration of Moses 
and of Christ, p. 164.— his letter to Mr. Cappe, p. 166.— Dr. Priestley de- 
fended, p. 167- — and freedom of discussion vindicated, p. 168. — Mr. L. fur- 
ther disapproves of Dr. Priestley's rejection of the Miraculous Conception, 
p. 171- — and repeatedly urges Mr. Cappe to reply ,-p. 1/2. — Mr. Cappe de- 
clines the task which he had given reason to expect he would undertake, 
p. 175.— Mr. L., upon further consideration, inclines to Dr. P.'s hypothesis, 
p. 176. — Mr. Cappe's final judgement unknown, ibid. note. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Unitarian Liturgy adopted by the congregation at the King's Cha- 
pel at Boston in New England. Mr. Lindsey corresponds with 
Dr. Freeman, Mr. Vanderkemp, &c. Progress and present 
state of the Unitarian churches in America. 

Mr. Lindsey is informed that an Unitarian Litui'gy is adopted at Boston in 
New England, p. 178. — Mr. (now Dr.) Freeman expresses regret that it 
is not more perfect, ibid. note. — a new edition, cleared from exceptionable 
phrases, printed in 1811, ibid. — Dr. Freeman at a loss for episcopal ordina- 
tion, p. 179. — ordained by his own society after a form recommended by 
Governor Bowdoin, p. 180.— an example of Bishop Seabury's mode of ordi- 
nation satisfios the scruples of Mr. Freeman's friends, 181. note. — Dr. 
Styles's reply to a claim of precedence by Bishop Seabury, ibid. — Mr. Cary 
associated as a colleague with Dr. Freeman, p. 181 . — Mr. Cary dies of a de- 
cline in England, p. 182. note. — Mr. L. presents Dr. Priestley's works to 
Harvard College, p. 182. — Men of eminence in America Unitarians in prin- 
ciple, p. 183. note. — Unitarian congregation formed at Portland, under Mr. 
Oxnard, ibid. — and at Saco, under the auspices of Mr. Thacher, a gentle- 
man cf great 7 - espectability, p. 184. — Hopes formed which events have not 
justified, p. 186. — Mr. Bentley of Salem a declared Unitarian, p. 187. — 
Progress of the Unitarian doctrine, ibid. — Dr. Freeman's excellent letter to 
Mr. Lindsey upon Mr. L.'s resignation, p. 188. — apprehensive that he may 
have been too sanguine in his expectations, p. 190. — Unitarianism in North- 
umberland and Philadelphia, ibid. — at Oldenbarneveld under Mr. Vander- 
kemp and Colonel Mappa, 191. — Case of the Rev. J. Sherman, minister 
of Mansfield in Connecticut, p. 192. — becomes an Unitarian, ibid. — his 
reasons for professing his sentiments, ibid. note. — is approved by a great ma- 
jority of his congregation, p. 193. — but disowned by the ^Association of mi- 
nisters, p. 194. — and by a Mutual Council dismissed from his church, p. 195. 
— Form of Independent churches, ibid. note. — Reflections, p. 197- — Mr. 
Sherman's friends wish to retain him, p. 200. — but he removes to Olden- 
barneveld, ibid. — from which situation he retires in 1810, p. 203. — The si- 
milar case of the Rev. Abiel Abbot, expelled by the Consociation under a 
charge of heresy in 181 1, p. 198. note. — appeals to a Mutual Council, p. 199. 
Dr. Osgood's just remarks, ibid. — the Mutual Council dissolves the con- 
nexion between Mr. Abbot and his congregation, ibid. — Mr. Abbot's pru- 
dence and moderation, p. 200. — State of Unitarianism in the district cf 
Maine, p. 204. — Promising state of the University of Cambridge under the 
direction of Dr. Kirkland, ibid. — Griesbach's Greek Testament, published by 
the Rev. J, E. Buckminster, p. 205. — and the Improved Version by Mr. W, 
Wells, ibid. — Curious account of the present state of the town of Boston, in 
a letter from a gentleman in America to his friend in England, p. 205. note. 
—Reflections, p. 208. note. 

Appendh: to Chap. IX. — Controversy excited at Boston by the facts 
stated in the preceding chapter, p. 209.— Professed Unitarians in America 



xii 



CONTENTS. 



disclaim being such in Mr. B.'s sense of the word, p. 210. — Mr. B. uses the 
word in the sense of Lardner, Lindsey, and Priestley, ibid. — Arians in the 
proper sense of the word maintain a plurality of Gods, p. 21 1. — in express 
contradiction to Scripture they deny worship to their Maker, p. 212. — and 
confine it to their Maker's maker, a being unknown to the sacred writers, 
ibid.— Extraordinary fact that Arians now deny worship to their Maker, ibid. 
note. — Different feelings of the author when an Arian, ibid.— Remarks on 
practical and doctrinal preaching, p. 212. — Success of Unitarianism in 
America, p. 213. 

CHAPTER X. 

Account of the New College at Hackney. The Author's intro- 
duction to and intimacy with Mr. Lindsey and Dr. Priestley. 
London Unitarian Society. Western Unitarian Society. Re- 
verend Timothy Kenrick. Unitarian Fund Society. 

Origin of the New College at Hackney, p. 214. — zealously supported by 
the Dissenters, p. 215. — causes of its failure, p. 216.— remaining funds', 
p. 217- — the author of the Memoir becomes connected with the Institution 
at Hackney, p. 218. — brief account of the Institution supported by the be- 
quest of William Coward, Esq. ibid. note. — The author appointed divinity 
tutor at Daventry, ibid. — mode of lecturing on the Unitarian controversy, 
p. 219. — the effect of it upon his pupils, p. 220. — and himself, p. 221. — 
becomes an Unitarian, and resigns bis office, p. 222.— introduces himself 
to Mr. Lindsey, ibid. — appointed a tutor at Hackney, p. 223. — becomes 
intimate with Mr. L., p. 224. — Dr. Priestley, driven from Birmingham by 
the riots, is chosen successor to Dr. Price, p. 225. — the author's frequent 
intercourse with Mr. Lindsey and Dr. Priestley, ibid. — Unitarian Society 
formed, p. 226. — disputes concerning the preamble, p. 227. — first annual 
dinner, p. 229. — political toasts, p. 230. — animadverted upon by Mr. Burke 
in the House of Commons, ibid. — the Society disavows all political views, 
p. 231. — its growing prosperity, ibid. — Western Unitarian Society formed, 
p. 232. — Brief account of the late Rev. Timothy Kenrick, ibid. — his zeal 
and success as a minister, tutor, and an advocate for truth, p. 233. — his sud- 
den and lamented decease, ibid. — his family and his posthumous works, 
p. 234. — Southern Unitarian Society, ibid. — Unitarian Fund Society, p. 235. 
— its great success, ibid. — present state of the London Unitarian Society, 
p. 236. 

CHAPTER XI. 

Analysis of the Conversations upon Christian Idolatry. The 
Duke of Grafton corresponds with and visits Mr. Lindsey^ and 
attends Unitarian worship. A brief account of the progress 
of the Duke's opinions, and of his reasons for seceding from 
the Established Church, Reflections. 

Circumstances which gave rise to the Conversations upon Christian Ido- 
latry, p. 237.— -account of the characters introduced, ibid.— Analysis of the 
work, ibid. — Trinitarians acknowledge themselves to be Idolaters, if their 
doctrine is false, p. 240. note.—- Remarks upon the conduct of the dialogue, 
p. 243. — Duke of Grafton attends Mr. Lindsey's ministry, p. 244. — The' 
Duke's reasons for inquiry, ibid. — becomes an Unitarian, and corresponds 
confidentially with Mr. Lindsey, p. 245. — requests permission to visit Mr. 
L. p. 246. — continues firm to his principles to the end of life, ibid. — takes 
memorandums of the progress of his mind, ibid.— of which he prints a few 



CONTENTS. 



xiii 



copies for the use of his family and friends, ibid. — continues to hold com- 
munion with the Established Church, p. 247- — his reasons for this conduct, 
p. 248. — remarks, ibid. — the Duke's humility, p. 249.— perplexed about the 
doctrine of atonement, ibid. — believes Christ can hear and help, but disap- 
proves of prayer to him, p. 250. — rejects the perpetual inspiration of the 
apostles and evangelists, ibid. — and the doctrine of original sin, p. 251. — 
God reconciled by repentance, ibid. — unintelligible doctrines not essential, 
ibid.— natural arguments for the immortality of the soul unsatisfactory, p. 252. 
the Duke vindicates his secession from the church, ibid. — Reflections upon 
the fortitude and the strength of principle in the Duke of Grafton, p. 254. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Mr. Lindsey publishes a new and reformed edition of his Liturgy; 
resigns his office in Essex-street Chapel. His Farewell Sermon 
printed, but not preached. Interests himself for those who suf- 
fered by unjust prosecutions. Cases of Fyshe Palmer, Muir, 
and Winterbotham. 

Mr. Lindsey's resolution to resign his office at the age of seventy, p. 257- 
— publishes a new edition of his reformed Liturgy, omitting the Apostles' 
Creed, and the three invocations in the Litany, ibid. — preaches and pub- 
lishes a sermon upon the occasion, vindicating the alterations, ibid.— this 
Liturgy changed for Dr. Disney's, p. 260. — but resumed, ibid. — Mr. Lind- 
sey's letter of resignation, ibid. — he recommends Dr. Disney as his succes- 
sor, p. 261. — Reply of the Trustees, p. 262. — Mr. Lindsey publishes a ser- 
mon upon the occasion, which his feelings would not permit him to preach, 
ibid. — On the gi-eat importance of the Unitarian doctrine, p. 263. — interest- 
ing conclusion, p. 265. — Mr. L. justified in resigning, though in the vigour 
or his powers, p. 266. — still continues to reside in Essex-House, p. 267. note. 
— Mr. Lindsey interests himself for those who were under State-prosecu- 
tions, p. 268. — Singularly hard case of Mr. Fyshe Palmer and of Mr. Muir, 
ibid. — their sentence reprobated abroad, p. 270. — legality of it questioned in 
the House of Commons, p. 271. — sent among felons to Botany Bay, p. 272. 
— and treated with great rigour, ibid. — Mr. Fyshe Palmer dies on his re- 
turn, p. 273. — Rev. W. Winterbotham's unjust sentence, ibid. — his suffer- 
ings mitigated by the kindness of Mr. Lindsey, Mrs. Rayner, and others, 
p. 274. — Mr. W. acknowledges his great obligation to Mr. Lindsey, ibid. note. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Dr. Priestley emigrates to America. His reasons for this mea- 
sure. Mr. Lindsey"s judgement in the case. Dr. Priestley's 
Farewell Sermon at Hackney. Letters to Mr. Lindsey from 
Gravesend, Deal, and Falmouth. Arrives at New York. Re- 
ception in America. 

Dr. Priestley determines upon emigration to America, p. 275. — assigns 
his reason in the Appendix to his Fast Sermon, ibid. — Remarks, p. 278. — 
Dr. Priestley hopes to return to England, ibid. note. — Mr. Lindsey approves 
Dr. P.'s resolution of going to America, p. 279. — Dr. Priestley takes his 
passage on board the Sansom, p. 280. — delivers an excellent Farewell Dis- 
course at Hackney, p. 281. — Analysis of the discourse, ibid. — expresses, m 
conversation with the author of the Memoir, his firm expectation of the 
speedy personal appearance of Christ, p. 286. note. — passes his last Sunday 
in Essex-street, arad hears au impressive discourse from Dr. Toulmin, p. 286. 



xlv 



CONTENTS. 



—Dr. Priestley goes to Gravesend, p. 287, —Letter from Gravesend, ibid.— 
from Deal, p. 288.— from off Falmouth, p. 289.— from New York, p. '290. 
« — givmg an account of his passage, ibid. — and bis reception in America* 
p. 293.— Letter from Mr. Henry Wansey to Mr. Lindsey, giving some ac- 
count of Dr. Priestley's reception at New York, p. 293. note. — Dr. Priestley 
accompanies his son to Philadelphia, p. 296. — and to Northumberland, ibid. 
— projected settlement on the Loyalsoc, p. 294. note.— Dr. Priestley refuses 
offers of preferment, and fixes his residence at Northumberland, to the great 
regret of his friends, p. 296.— but with an ultimate beneficial effect to the 
cause, ibid. — he keeps up a regular correspondence with Mr. Lindsey, p. 297- 
— his death, p. 298. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Dr. Priestley's Reply to Paine's Age of Reason ; reprinted in 
England by Mr. Lindsev, with a Preface in vindication of Dr. 
Priestley's character. Mr. Lindsey republishes another work of 
Dr. Priestley's, with a short preface. Dr. Priestley's acknow- 
ledgement of Mr. Lindsey's kindness. Analysis of Mr. Lind- 
sey's last publication, entitled Conversations upon the Divine 
Government. 

Paine's Age of Reason makes great impression in America, p. 298. — Dr. 
Priestley replies to it immediately after his arrival, p. 299. — Mr. Lindsey re- 
prints the work in England, with a preface in defence of Dr. Priestley, ibid. 
— Analysis of the preface, p. 300. — Dr. Priestley esteemed and beloved by 
many, ibid. — hostility to him accounted for, p. 301. — Bishop Hurd's illiberal 
reflections upon the Unitarians censured, p. 302. — Mrs. Barbauld's elegant 
verses addressed to Dr. Priestley, ibid. note. — Falsehoods circulated con- 
cerning him in England, ibid.— and America, p. 303. — Mr. Lindsey's reflec- 
tions on the prostituted talents of the editors of The British Critic in giving 
currency to foul calumnies, p. 304. — Dr. Priestley's acknowledgements to his 
friend, p. 305. note. — Mr. L. reprints Dr. Priestley's treatise on the know- 
ledge which the Hebrews had of a future state ; with a preface, p. 305. — 
Dr. Priestley's thanks, and testimony to the value of religion, ibid. note. — 
Mr. Lindsey publishes his Conversations on the Divine Government, p. 306. 
— dedication, ibid. — design of the work, p. 307- — First Conversation, ibid. 
■ — Photinus argues, that miracles result from general laws, p. 308. — Re- 
marks, p. 309. — Second Conversation, p. 310. — Photinus argues the good- 
ness of the divine government, ibid. — Third Conversation, ibid. — Photinus 
defends the Mosaic history, p. 311. — The author rather too peremptory on 
this point, ibid. — Extermination of the Canaanites considered, p. 312. — Im- 
perfection of heathen philosophy, p. 314. — Superior excellence of the Go- 
spel, ibid.— depraved by Mohammed, who was at first sincere, p. 315. — Mo- 
ral state of the world better than it is sometimes represented, p. 316. — 
Archbishop King's original and valuable observations upon this subject, 
p. 317- note.— Fourth Conversation most important, ibid. — Marcellinus 
wishes to see it proved, that natural and moral evil are of divine appoint- 
ment, and permitted for go«d, p. 318. — Photinus undertakes the proof, ibid. 
— Volusian is delighted with the conclusion, and laments the errors of Fre- 
deric and D Alembert, p. 320. — Photinus endeavours to reconcile this doc- 
trine with the responsibility of man, ibid. — a different solution proposed, 
p. 322. — In the Fifth Conversation Synesius recants his errors concerning 
the Mosaic history, p. 324. — refutes the doctrine of eternal torments, p. 325; 
— and defends the theory of universal salvation, ibid. — in which Photinus 
concurs, ibid. — In the Sixth Conversation Synesius argues, to the »atisfae- 



CONTENTS. 



XY 



tion of his friends against, the existence of such a being as the devil, p, 326, 
— The author's remarks upon Mr. Lindsey' s last work, p. 328. 

CHAPTER XV. 

Mr. Lindsey suffers a paralytic seizure, but recovers. Dr. Priest- 
ley^ reflections upon the situation of his friend, and upon Mr. 
Lindsey's last work. Mr. Lindsey interests himself in the ap- 
pointment of the author to the chapel in Essex-street. En- 
courages and assists the Improved Version. His gradual decline 
and death. Conclusion of the Work. 

Mr. Lindsey is seized first with a slight and afterwards with a violent pa- 
ralytic affection, p. 330. — from which he recovers so far as to be able to 
finish his last publication, p. 331. — Dr. Priestley's feelings upon the occa- 
sion expressed in a letter to Mrs. Lindsey, ibid. — and in another to Mr. 
L. p. 333. — His joy at receiving a letter in Mr. L.'s own hand-writing-, 
p. 335. — Reflections of the author upon this correspondence, p. 337- — Let- 
ter from Mr. Jefferson to Dr. Priestley, p. 338. note. — Dr. P.'s letter to Mrs, 
Lindsey, and testimony to the distinguished excellence of that lady's cha- 
racter, p. 340. — Plan of a subscription to defray the expense of Dr. Priest- 
ley's Church History, and Notes on the Scriptures, p. 341. note.— Bishop 
of Elphin's letter and liberal subscription, p. 342.— Letter of thanks from 
the Rev. C. Wyvill for Mr. L.'s Conversations on the Divine Government, 
p. 344.^ — Dr. Priestley's death, p. 345. — Mr. Lindsey interests himself in 
the appointment of the writer to Essex-street chapel, on the resignation of 
Dr. Disney, p. 346. — and renews his attendance at the chapel, ibid. — Mr. L. 
takes great interest in the publication of the Improved Version of the New- 
Testament by the Unitarian Society, p. 347- — Dr. Priestley's original plan 
of a continually improving translation of the Scriptures, in 1789, ibid. — 
great progress made in the undeitaking, p. 348. — stopped by the destruc- 
tion of Dr. Priestley's papers at the Birmingham riots, p. 349. — Unitarian 
Society take up the design, ibid. — resolve, at the General Meeting in 1806, 
to carry it into immediate execution, ibid. — reasons for adopting Archbishop 
Newcome's Translation as the basis, p. 350. — Bishop of Killala's expostula- 
tion with the author of the Memoir upon this subject, p. 352. note. — rea- 
sons for the introduction of explanatory notes, p. 352. — zeal with which this 
undertaking was supported, p. 354. — liberal subscriptions by Mr. Lindsey, 
the Duke of Grafton, and Mr. Prime, ibid. — Mr. William Smith distributes 
many copies with a judicious preface for the use of students, ibid. note. — Ob- 
jections to the Improved Version, and answers, p. 355. — Mr. Lindsey ap- 
proves the execution of the Work, and takes great pleasure in reading it, 
p. 359. — His health declines rapidly, p. 360. — his last sickness, ibid. — and 
death, p. 361. — Brief recapitulation of his character, p. 362. — Reflections of 
the author, ibid.— Death of Mrs. Lindsey, p. 363. — and of Mrs. Jebb, ibid. 



xvi 



CONTENTS. 



APPENDIX. 

I. Letters of the Dutchess of Somerset to Mr. Lindsey, p. 365. 

II. Letters of the Countess (afterwards Dutchess) of Northumberland, 

p. 374. 

III. Letters of Archdeacon Blackburne, p. 376. 
Letter from Thomas Hollis, Esq. p. 380. 

IV. Letter of Hans Stanley, Esq. refusing to support the Petition of the 

Clergy, p. 381. 

Correspondence between Mr. Lindsey and Dr, Markham, then bishop 
of Chester, on Mr. Lindsey's resignation, p. 384. 
V. Letters to Mr. Lindsey upon his resignation of the vicarage of Cat- 
terick, p. 388. 

VI. Letter^ of Thomas Hollis, Esq., under the assumed name of Pierce 
Delver, p. 391. 
VII. Letters of the Rev. William Hopkins, p. 392. 
IX. Letter of P. Courayer, p. 399. 

X. Letter from William Wells, Esq., with some account of the present 

state of the Unitarians in New England, p. 401. 
XL Letter of the Rev. Thomas Fyshe Palmer, giving an account of his 

cruel treatment on board the Surprize, p. 403. 
XII. Letters from Dr. Priestley to Mr. Lindsey; and from Thomas -Jeffer- 
son, Esq., President of the United States, to Dr. Priestley, p. 406. 
XIII. List of Mr. Lindsey's publications, p, 422. 



MEMOIRS 

OF THE LATE 

REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 

CHAPTER I. 

ACCOUNT OF MR. LINDSEY FROM THE TIME OF HIS BIRTH 
TO HIS SETTLEMENT AT CATTERICK, IN YORKSHIRE. 

The Reverend Theophilus Lindsey was born at Mid- 
dlewich, in Cheshire, June 20, 1723, O. S. His father, 
Robert Lindsey, descended from an ancient family in 
Scotland, was a mercer in that town, and also possessed 
a lucrative concern in the salt-works in that neighbour- 
hood. He was a man of excellent character, and origi- 
nally in easy circumstances ; but through the imprudence 
of an elder son by his first wife, whom he had admitted 
into partnership, his property was considerably reduced. 
His second wife, the mother of the subject of this me- 
moir, was a lady of exemplary character. Her maiden 
name was Spencer ; she was distantly related to the 
Marlborough family, and previously to her marriage had 
lived upwards of twenty years in the family of Frances, 
Countess of Huntingdon. By Mr. Robert Lindsey this 
lady had three children, the youngest of whom was named 
after his godfather Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon, the 
son of the above-mentioned lady, and the husband of 
Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, so well known as the 

B 



2 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. I. 



zealous and liberal patroness of Mr. Whitfield and the 
Calvinistic Methodists *. 

Lady Betty and Lady Ann Hastings, the kind friends 
of Mrs. Lindsey, who had lived with them from their 
childhood, soon remarked the ingenuous temper, the pro- 
mising talents, the love of learning, and the serious spirit 
of her youngest son, and took him under their own im- 
mediate patronage. From a school in the neighbour- 
hood of Middlewich, at which he had made considerable 
proficiency in proportion to the advantages which he en- 
joyed, they removed him to Leeds, and placed him under 
the care of the Reverend Mr. Barnard, master of the free 
grammar school in that town ; a gentleman of great emi- 



* With this very respectable lady Mr. Lindsey lived many years in habits 
of friendship. And though after his secession from the established church,, 
and the public avowal of his theological principles, all personal intercourse 
was for many years suspended, yet when Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey, in the sum- 
mer of 1786, called upon Lady Huntingdon at Talgarth, in Wales, they^ 
were received, as he expresses it in a letter to a friend, " most graciously, as 
usual." Not only did she direct that every possible attention should be 
shown them in their visit to her Academical Institution in the neighbourhood,, 
but she earnestly pressed them to prolong their stay. With her old and much 
respected friend she had much serious conversation; and seemed particularly 
impressed with a hint which Mr. Lindsey threwout, in reference to a dear and 
only surviving son, of the safety of whose final state her ladyship entertained 
the most painful apprehensions, that possibly the state of future punishment 
might be only a process of severer discipline, and that the greatest sinners 
might ultimately find mercy. And when they parted, she took a most affec- 
tionate leave of them, and gave them her kind maternal benediction, express- 
ing at the same time her hope of meeting them in a better world. "Some good 
I hope is done," says Mr. L. to his correspondent above referred to, " where 
much is intended, by this praiseworthy lady, who has, for full forty years, de- 
voted her fortunes, time, and labours to promote, what she believes to be the 
truth : though I cannot but hope it will be a place for more rational enquirers 
after she drops into her grave." This venerable lady was at that time "turned 
eighty, but hale and sensible for that age." And though she might for a 
moment be soothed by a glimpse of hope of the ultimate restoration of a 
darling child, it was not to be expected thatMr.Lindsey's conversation would 
make any permanent impression upon her mind. He afterwards speaks of 
his aged friend as "still in the depths of mysticism and methodism, though 
she was become more moderate towards those who held different opinions.'* 
Nor does it appear that any material change ever took place in Lady Hunting- 
don's religious views, though the abuse of her generosity by some persons in 
whom she had placed a confidence which they did not deserve, made it ne- 
cessary for her, in some measure, to restrain her munificence, and gave rise 
to a report that she had deserted the methodist connexion. 



CH. I.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 3 

nence both for learning and piety, who devoted himself 
wholly to the honourable and arduous duties of his pro- 
fession ; and to whose superior talents and exemplary 
assiduity his grateful pupil was wont to ascribe, under 
divine Providence, not only all his literary attainments, 
but almost all that was honourable and right in his per- 
sonal character. To the edifying instructions of Mr. 
Barnard, in concurrence with the impressions of his 
earlier domestic education, Mr. Lindsey was indebted 
for that ardent love of truth, that firm integrity, that pu- 
rity of spirit, that early and deeply rooted principle of 
piety, by which he was so eminently distinguished. 

His vacations were usually spent at the mansion of 
his noble patronesses, in the vicinity of Leeds, during the 
life of Lady Betty Hastings, and after her decease, at 
Ashby Place, near Ashby de la Zouch, in Leicestershire, 
where Lady Ann then fixed her residence. To this 
house, likewise, Mrs. Lindsey removed, together with 
her only daughter, at the invitation of Lady Ann Hast- 
ings, after the decease of her husband in the year 1742, 
where she continued to reside with her noble and pious 
friend till her death, which took place A.D. 1747, after 
having been gratified by the accomplishment of the first 
wish of her heart, that of seeing her son in the pulpit. 
Over the remains of this exemplary lady a neat monu- 
ment was erected in Ashby churchyard, with an inscrip- 
tion, purporting that " while a child she had been the 
play-fellow, and a widow, the friend of Lady Ann Hast- 
ings, who erected that monument to her memoiy, and 
was a sincere and affectionate mourner for her death." 

With these advantages, public and domestic, for im- 
provement both in learning and piety, in concurrence 
with a temperament cast in the happiest mould, "having," 
as he expresses it in the modest account of himself an- 

b 2 



4 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. I. 

nexed to his Apology on resigning the vicarage of Cat- 
terick, " been impressed from early youth with a love of 
truth and virtue, a fear of God and desire to approve 
himself to him, which never left him;" and having been 
well instructed in classical literature, Mr. Lindsey was 
well qualified for the university, and was admitted as a 
student at St. John's College, in Cambridge, May 21, 
1741, in the eighteenth year of his age. Here his lite- 
rary attainments and exemplary conduct soon attracted 
general notice and admiration. And when the late learn- 
ed and pious Dr. Reynolds, bishop of Lincoln, being de- 
sirous of sending his grandson, a promising youth of 
fifteen, to the university, inquired after some senior stu- 
dent under whose care he might place him, to assist his 
studies and to protect his morals at that early age, Mr. 
Lindsey was the person recommended for the office. This 
circumstance laid the foundation for a firm and tender 
friendship, founded upon a thorough knowledge of each 
other's character, and a consequent mutual affection and 
esteem, which continued without interruption to the end 
of Mr. Lindsey' s life; and the recollection of which is 
cherished by the venerable and grateful survivor as one 
of the best blessings which heaven bestowed upon him. 
Mr. Reynolds, after having finished his education at the 
university, was taken by the late Lord Sandwich as his 
private secretary to Aix la Chapelle, where he remained 
during the negotiation of the celebrated treaty which 
takes its name from that city. After his return to En- 
gland, declining the engagements of public life, he retired 
to his estate at Little Paxton, in Huntingdonshire. There 
he still resides (1812) ; and amidst the high estimation 
in which he is universally and deservedly held both for 
his public and his private virtues, he justly regards it as 
not the least of his honours to be known as one of the 



CH. I.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 5 

earliest friends and warmest admirers of the venerable 
Theophilus Lindsey f< 

Having passed through his academical course and taken 
his degrees with high reputation, Mr. Lindsey was elected 
a Fellow of St. John's College in April 1747 ; and had 
he chosen to devote himself to literary pursuits, he was 
well qualified to have attained considerable distinction ; 
but his chief ambition was to be a minister of the gospel. 
Accordingly, he relates of himself that, " after the usual 
time spent at school and in the university, he entered 
into the ministry of the gospel, out of a free and delibe- 
rate choice, and with an earnest desire to promote the 
great ends of it. And having been educated in the esta- 
blished church, he did not at that time feel any scruples 
either concerning the use of the liturgy, or subscription 
to the articles." 

Having been ordained by Dr. Gibson, the learned and 
exemplary bishop of London, he was in the twenty-third 
year of his age presented to a chapel in Spital Square 
by Sir George Wheeler of Otter den Place in Kent, at 
the recommendation of his noble sister-in-law, the un- 
wearied friend and benefactress of Mr. Lindsey, Lady 
Ann Hastings. 

In a short time after his settlement in London, Alger- 
non Duke of Somerset being in want of a discreet and 
pious clergyman to officiate as his domestic chaplain, re- 
ceived such a character of Mr. Lindsey from Francis 
Earl of Huntingdon, the nephew of Lady Ann Hastings, 
that he immediately invited him into his house. To 



* " I recollect," says this gentleman in a letter with which he favoured 
the writer of this memoir, "that Mr. Lindsey excelled in college exercises^ 
that he was singularly pious ; that he attended the chapel prayers, and 
monthly received the sacrament. His manners were mild and gentle, and 
his conversation was of a serious turn, hut agreeable, and sought by his fel- 
low students. I have reason to believe that he obtained the highest ho- 
nours on taking his degree, I mean Wranglership, but this I cannot posi- 
tively assert." Mr. Reynolds died in 1814. 



6 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. I. 



this amiable nobleman and his accomplished lady, better 
known as the Countess of Hertford, the honoured patron- 
ess of genius and virtue, he recommended himself to such 
a degree, by his prudent and exemplary conduct, and by 
the suavity of his manners, that he soon acquired the af- 
fection and confidence of his illustrious patrons ; and du- 
ring the short remainder of the Duke's life, who expired 
in his arms, he was treated not with the distance and cold- 
ness of a dependant, but with the liberality and affection 
of a friend. 

After the decease of the Duke of Somerset, Mr. 
Lindsey continued for some time in the family of the 
Dutchess. And at her particular and earnest request, 
he accompanied her grandson, the late Duke of Nor- 
thumberland, then about nine years of age, and in a de- 
licate state of health, to the continent, where he conti- 
nued two years ; at the expiration of which term he 
brought his noble pupil back, restored in health and im- 
proved in learning. 

Of the kind and successful attention of Mr. Lindsey 
to Lord Warkworth, his illustrious . parents entertained 
a just and grateful sense, and from that time they were 
set upon advancing his interest in the church*. Nor 

* See Appendix, No. I. How anxiously these noble personages were bent 
upon making a comfortable provision in the church for their highly esteemed 
friend, appears from the following extract of a letter from the late Dutchess, 
then Countess of Northumberland, to Mr. Lindsey, when he resided at Pid- 
dletown in Dorsetshire : 

" I dare not give you another invitation to come to us, though both my 
lord and I wish much for the pleasure of seeing you, as you say it may be 
inconvenient to your affairs. I am truly sorry that it is so, and shall be sin- 
cerely glad to do any thing in my power to make it otherwise, and find my- 
self really obliged to you for believing I would do so. You say, dear sir, 
that if any small matter fell in my way for your service, you are persuaded 
I would think of you. Of this you may be assured. At the same time, I 
could wish you would be so good as to hint to me of what kind ; whether in 
the chuich, or a domestic chaplainship, or a private tutor would be most 
agreeable to you. At the same t me I must tell you, that I some years ago 
told my lord that I desired he would give me the next presentation of Hasil- 
bury Bryan, as I hoped its vicinity to Piddletown might make it agreeable 
to you j and upon this you may depend whenever it shall become vacant : 



CH. I.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



7 



was his faithful superintendence lost upon the mind of 
his noble pupil, who, to the latest hour of Mr. Lindsey' s 
life, entertained the highest esteem for his character, and 
manifested his regard for his venerable preceptor by more 
than empty professions. 

Immediately after Mr. Lindsey's return from the con- 
tinent, he was presented by the Earl of Northumberland 
to the valuable rectory of Kirkby Whiske, in the north 
riding of Yorkshire, at first under condition to resign it 
when the person for whom it was intended came of age; 
but this young man dying a short time afterwards, it was 
given to Mr. Lindsey unconditionally in the usual form. 
And Mr. Lindsey, declining the proposal of his noble 
patrons to accompany Lord Warkworth to Eton as his 
private tutor, hastened down into the north to take pos- 
session of his living, and to enter upon the office of a 
parochial minister, which was the highest object of his 
ambition; this being, in his judgement, "the way in 
which he could best serve God and be useful to man ;" 
and which, therefore, he engaged in, " with an earnest 
desire that he might promote these great ends of the mi- 
nistry of the gospel*." 

In this very retired situation Mr. Lindsey continued 



but, in the mean while, I beg you will let me know if any of these above 
would suit you. And if I can be of any service to you in these, or any other 
things, it will give me great pleasure. I will not trouble you now any longer 
than to assure you of the sincere and affectionate friendship with which I am, 

" Dear sir, 
"Your most faithful humble servant, 

"E. Northumberland." 

It may be proper to mention here, that during his residence at the 
Dutchess of Somerset's, Mr. Lindsey so recommended himself by his dis- 
creet and exemplary behaviour, that a worthy and pious lady, Mrs. Pearce, 
a friend of the Dutchess, bequeathed to him without his knowledge the next 
presentation to the rectory of Chew Magna, near Bristol. The living be- 
came vacant after Mr. Lindsey had left the church and was settled in Essex- 
istreet. And, honourably resisting all the proposals which were made to him to 
dispose of it to great advantage, he presentedit to a worthy clergyman, M 
Hall, the brother-in-law of Mrs. Lindsey, who manned Archdeacon Black- 
burne's youngest daughter, and who is now (1812) the respectable incumbent. 

* Apology, p. 217. 



8 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. J* 



about three years ; and during his residence in Yorkshire 
he was introduced to the acquaintance, and became a 
visitor in the family, of the celebrated Archdeacon Black- 
burne, at Richmond, a circumstance to which he was 
afterwards indebted, under divine Providence, for the 
most valuable blessing of his life. 

At the request of the Huntingdon family, who con- 
sidered themselves as having a prior claim, which they 
were unwilling to relinquish, to the honour of providing 
for Mr. Lindsey, he resigned the living of Kirkby Whiske, 
in the year 1756, in order to succeed Dr. Dawney in the 
living of Piddletown, in Dorsetshire, which was in the 
gift of the Earl of Huntingdon. In this place he lived 
and laboured in his parochial and official duties with high 
reputation for seven years. While he was minister of 
this parish, Mr. Lindsey was married, Sept. 29, 1760, 
to Miss Hannah Elsworth, the stepdaughter of Archdea- 
con Blackburne % a lady whose principles and views were 
congenial to his own ; whose superior understanding and 
exalted virtues were eminently calculated (as her excel- 
lent consort most cheerfully acknowledged) to aid and 
second him in all his schemes for the temporal and spi- 
ritual benefit of his parishioners, and especially of the poor 
and ignorant ; to go hand in hand with him in his re- 
searches after divine truth ; to encourage him in every 



* Archdeacon Blackburne, noticing this event in the memoirs of his own 
life, prefixed to a new edition of his Works, published by his son, the Reve- 
rend Francis Blackburne, A.D. 1804, says, "The friendship between Mr. 
Lindsey and Mr. Blackburne was not nearly so much cemented by this fa- 
mily connexion, as by a similarity of sentiment in the cause of Christian 
liberty, and their aversion to ecclesiastical imposition in matters of conscience. 
In the warfare on these subjects they went hand in hand." The Archdea- 
con, who did not, for reasons which were afterwards published, approve of 
the magnanimous sacrifice which his relation had made, coldly adds, that 
*' when Mr. Lindsey left Yorkshire and settled in London, Mr. Blackburne 
used to say he had lost his right arm." See Blackburne's Works, vol. L 
p. 48. Upon the subject of Mr. Lindsey's marriage with Miss Elsworth see 
an entertaining letter of the Countess, afterwards Dutchess of Northumber- 
land, Appendix, No. II. 



CH. I.j REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 9 

labour, in every profession, and in every sacrifice, to 
which he might be prompted by a sense of duty ; and 
to fortify and console his mind under trials and privations 
of no common sort, and which it required no ordinary 
share of fortitude and magnanimity to support with dig- 
nity and to encounter with success # . 

It was while Mr. Lindsey resided at Piddletown that 
he first began to entertain serious scruples concerning 
the Scripture warrant for Trinitarian worship, and the 
lawfulness of his continuing to officiate in the established 
church. His susceptible and inquisitive mind had, in- 
deed, from early youth disapproved of some things in the 
thirty-nine articles ; and even while he was at the uni- 
versity, it struck him as a strange unnecessary entangle- 
ment, to put young men upon declaring and subscrib- 
ing their approbation of such a large heterogeneous mass 
of positions and doctrines, as are contained in the liturgy, 
articles, and homilies. "But," he adds, ££ 1 was not 
under any scruples or great uneasiness on this account. 
I had hitherto no doubt, or rather I had never much 
thought of or examined into the doctrine of the Trinity, 
but supposed all was right there f." 

Some years afterwards, many doubts concerning the 
truth of this doctrine sprang up in his mind, which in- 
duced him to study the Scriptures with very close atten- 
tion, in order to settle his judgement and to relieve him- 
self from a painful state of suspense upon a question of 
such high importance. The result of his learned, calrn^ 



* Mr. Lindsey, who was deeply sensible of the high value of the inesti- 
mable treasure which he possessed, in a letter to a friend, when he had it 
in contemplation to resign his benefice in the church, speaks of Mrs. Lind- 
sey as one who was ready to run any hazard or loss to promote the cause of 
truth, and that in every step which he took in this business he had the full 
concurrence of his wife, " quae quoque currentem incitat." See Memoirs 
of the Reverend T. Lindsey, published in the Monthly Magazine for Dec, 
1808, drawn up by a friend from original papers in his possession. 

t Apology, p. 217. 



10 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. I. 



and diligent inquiries shall be stated in his own words : 
"The more I searched, the more I saw the little foun- 
dation there was for the doctrine commonly received, 
and interwoven with all the public devotions of the church, 
and could not but be disturbed at a discovery so ill suit- 
ing my situation. For, in the end, I became fully per- 
suaded, to use St. Paul's express words, 1 Cor. viii. 6. 
< that there is but one God, the Father, and he alone to 
be worshiped.' This appeared to be the uniform unva- 
ried language and practice of the Bible throughout: and 
I found the sentiments and practice of Christians, in the 
first and best ages, corresponding with it # ." 

The scruples excited in Mr. Lindsey's mind from the 
result of his inquiries, gradually rose to such a height as 
to induce him, while he lived in Dorsetshire, to take some 
previous steps with a design to relieve himself, by quit- 
ting his preferment in the church The considerations 
which chiefly weighed with him to relinquish this design 
at that time, will be stated hereafter. It may be suffi- 
cient for the present to observe, that self-interest and 
worldly considerations were not the motives; for by these, 
as he truly observes, and as all who knew him and the 
whole tenor of his life will testify, " he was never much 
influenced." Beside which, "he had at that time a pro- 
spect of not being left entirely destitute of support if he 
had gone out of the church f." 

In the year 1762, upon the resignation of the Whig 
administration, the late Duke of Northumberland was 
appointed to succeed the Earl of Halifax as Lord Lieu- 
tenant of Ireland. Upon this occasion his illustrious con- 
sort, eager to testify her regard to distinguished worth, 
at the Duke's desire wrote immediately to JVIr. Lindsey 
to offer him the place of chaplain to the Lord Lieutenant, 



* Apology, p. 218. f Ibid. p. 221. 



CH. I.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



11 



accompanied with a request that he and Mrs. Lindsey 
would reside with them in the vice-regal palace till some 
preferment should offer worthy of his acceptance ; " at 
the same time assuring him that the duke and herself 
should consider his acquiescence as a favour conferred 
on themselves ; that they should want the society of so 
kind and faithful a friend in a situation so new and un- 
tried That the acceptance of this offer would have 
been a prelude to some exalted station in the church of 
Ireland cannot admit a doubt. f But ambition of high 
ecclesiastical dignity formed no part of Mr. Lindsey's 
character. Eminently qualified as he was by learning 
and piety, by prudence of conduct and politeness of man- 
ners, to have filled and adorned the most conspicuous 
station in the church, his humility aspired to no higher 
preferment than that of a parochial minister. With 
much gratitude, therefore, but with equal firmness and 
decision, he declined the splendid offer of his noble friends, 
and contented himself with remaining for the present in 
his beautiful retirement in Dorsetshire. 

Not, indeed, that Mr. Lindsey felt any particular pre- 
dilection for the situation in which he was now placed^ 
however agreeable or advantageous. It was the secret 
wish both of him and of Mrs. Lindsey, to return to the 
north, and to fix their residence in the vicinity of Rich- 

* See the Memoir of the late Rev. Theophilus Lindsey, in the Monthly 
Repository for Decemberl808, by Mrs. Cappe. This lady, the daughter of 
Mr. Lindsey's worthy predecessor at Catterick, and the widow of the late 
learned, pious, and eloquent Newcome Cappe of York, who is also herself 
well known to the public by various works which equally display the superi- 
ority of her intellect and the ardour of her piety and benevolence, was the 
early and faithful friend of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey : and to her great honour 
be it known, that this lady was one of the very few who remained firmly and 
affectionately attached to them in the season of severe trial, and who, upon 
all occasions, came forward as their generous and intrepid advocate, when 
many who had formerly made great professions, stood aloof, and not a few 
were disposed to cavil and condemn. 

f Dr. Dodgson, who accepted the appointment which Mr. Lindsey de- 
clined, was soon advanced to the bishopr ck of Ossory, from which he was 
afterwards translated to that of Elphin, where he died a few years ago. 



12 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. I 

mond, where they might enjoy the society of many valu- 
able friends, and particularly of the venerable Archdea- 
con Blackburne. An opportunity for effecting this pur- 
pose occurred in the year following, by the vacancy of the 
vicarage of Catterick, in Yorkshire, occasioned by the 
decease of the Rev. Jeremiah Harrison, in July 1763. 
With the consent and by the interest of Lord Hunting- 
don, Mr. Lindsey was permitted to exchange his living 
in Dorsetshire for the vicarage of Catterick ; a benefice 
in every respect inferior to that of Piddletown, excepting 
that of its proximity to those learned and virtuous friends 
whose society he was most anxious to cultivate^. 

It may appear singular, that Mr. Lindsey, who, while 
he resided in Dorsetshire, had, in consequence of his 
more diligent study of the Holy Scriptures, discarded the 
doctrine of the Trinity, and other doctrines of the esta- 
blished church which are connected with it ; who had 
even proceeded so far as to have formed a design of resign- 
ing his preferment in the church, and had taken some 
steps towards the accomplishment of this purpose, could 
by any means reconcile his ingenuous mind to that re- 
newed subscription to the articles and declaration of his 
assent, which were necessary upon his induction into his 
new living. And the case appears the more extraordi- 
nary, as many clergymen, who in consequence of a revo- 
lution in their opinions had become dissatisfied with the 
articles, would never, for the sake of obtaining the most 
valuable preferment, subscribe them again^ though, while 
they were permitted to remain unmolested, they did not 
perceive it to be their duty to retire from the churchf. 
With the frankness natural to his liberal mind, Mr. 

* See Mrs. Cappe's Memoir in the Monthly Repository, ibid. 

•f" In the foremost rank of these worthy confessors is the venerable Arch- 
deacon Blackburne, who, though he has opposed the Unitarian doctrine with 
much more of acrimony than argument, in a small tract which he left for 
publication after his decease, entitled An Answer to the Question, Why are 



CH. I.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



13 



Lindsey himself gives the following solution of this diffi- 
culty. After having stated the considerations which 
at that time overruled his scruples of remaining in the 
church, he adds, " My great difficulty was the point of 
worship. In comparison with this, subscription to the 
articles, however momentous in itself, gave me then but 
little concern. For as the devotions of the church are 
framed in strict agreement with the articles, and corre- 
spond with them more especially in what relates to reli- 
gious worship, I looked upon my continuing to officiate 
in them as a constant virtual repetition of my subscrip- 
tion : and therefore I needed not nor did decline the actual 
repetition of it when occasion served; though I was not 
forward in seeking such occasions*." It cannot be de- 
nied that Mr. Lindsey's conduct in this instance has the 
merit of consistency ; for it seems hard to assign a satis- 
factory reason, why they who do not hesitate to use the 
liturgy, should decline subscribing the articles of the 
church. It would however be the extreme of unchari- 
tableness, to pass a severe censure upon those who ap- 
prove their integrity by rejecting preferment, when it 
could not be obtained but at the price of a renewed sub- 

you not a Socinian ? has, in the same tract, advanced reasons for the conti- 
nued conformity of those who disapprove of many things in the doctrine and 
discipline of the established church, which, if not completely satisfactory, 
will at least induce a candid reader, who can make allowance for human 
frailty, to pause before he passes a sentence of unqualified condemnation 
upon those serious and inquisitive persons, who retain their official situations 
in the chm-ch so long as they continue unmolested in making those altera- 
tions which they judge to be necessary in the unscriptural phraseology of the 
public liturgy. Upon these principles, Archdeacon Blackburne continued 
to the end of life an officiating minister of the established church ; while at 
the same time, though the whole emolument which he derived from his pro- 
fession amounted to little more than the scanty pittance of a hundred and 
fifty pounds a-year, he peremptorily and repeatedly refused to accept of bet- 
ter preferment, which required renewed subscription to the thirty-nine ar- 
ticles. On the other hand, he declined an offer of more than double that in- 
come from the numerous and respectable congregation of the Old Jewry, in 
London, who were desirous of inviting him to be their pastor, in succession 
to the learned Dr. Chandler. See Memoir of Archdeacon Blackburne's Life 
prefixed to his Works, pp. 74, 75, and 120. See Appendix, No. III. 
* Apology, p. 225. 



14 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. I. 



scription to articles, even though (inconsistently as we 
may think) they may continue to retain their stations in 
the church, and to officiate in its devotions. Every man 
has not the firmness of a Luther or a Lindsey, and to his 
own master must every one stand or fall. 

It may now therefore be proper to state those conside- 
rations which reconciled this venerable confessor's own 
mind, to remaining in the church, and to the regular 
performance of his official duties, for so many years after 
that by his own acknowledgement he had abandoned its 
main doctrines, and regarded its forms of worship as er- 
roneous and unscriptural. Upon this subject, we are hap- 
pily not left to vague conjecture; for Mr. Lindsey himself, 
with all his native modesty and candour, has clearly stated 
in the last chapter of his Apology on resigning the vicarage 
of Catterick, the interesting process of his mind upon 
this trying occasion. I transcribe his own words *. 

1 . <c Destined early and educated for the ministry, and 
my heart engaged in the service, when the moment of 
determination came, I felt a reluctance at casting myself 
out of my profession and way of usefulness that quite dis- 
couraged me. This was probably heightened by my 
being alone at the time, having no intimate friend to 
consult or converse with, and my imagination might be 
shocked by the strangeness and singularity of what I was 
then going to do ; for such subjects, then upwards of fif- 
teen years ago, were not so much canvassed or become 
so familiarized as they have been sincef. 

" But I did not enough reflect, that when unlawful 

* Apology, p. 220. 

f The time alluded to must have been about the year 1758. This was 
previous to the resignation of the reverend and learned Dr. William Robert- 
son, who, in January 1760, for the sake of a good conscience, gave up a va- 
luable living in Ireland. So that at the time when Mr. Lindsey first thought 
of relinquishing his station in the church, he had scarcely any example for 
nearly a century back, of a similar act of self-denial to encoui age and fortify 
his mind. Those eminent divines of the established church, who, at the 



CH. I.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



15 



compliances of any sort are required, the first dictates of 
conscience, which are generally the rightest, are to be at- 
tended to; and that the plain road of duty and uprightness 
will always be found to lead to the truest good in the end, 
because it is that which is chalked out by God himself. 

2. " Many worthy persons whose opinions varied little 
from mine, could nevertheless satisfy themselves so as 
to remain in the church and officiate in it. Why then, 
it often occurred to me, and others did not spare to re- 
monstrate, why must I alone be so singularly nice and 
scrupulous, as not to comply with what wiser and better 
men could accommodate themselves to, but disturb 
others and distress myself by enthusiastic fancies purely 
my own, bred in gloomy solitude, which by time, and 
the free communication and unfolding of them to others, 
might be dispersed and removed, and give way to a more 
cheerful and enlarged way of thinking ? It was worth the 
while at least to try such a method, and not rashly to 
take a step of which I might long repent. 

3. "It was suggested that I was not author or con- 
triver of the things imposed and complained of. All I 
did was ministerial only, in submission to civil authority, 
which is within certain limitations the authority of God, 
and which had imposed these things only for peace and 
public good. That I ought not only to leave my bene- 
fice, but to go out of the world, if I expected a perfect 



commencement of the eighteenth century, thought and wrote with great 
freedom upon theological subjects, contented themselves, for the most part, 
with declining to renew their subscription to the articles in order to obtain 
further preferment, but did not feel themselves obliged to resign the stations 
which they held. And though, as the century advanced, much had been said 
and written in recommendation of greater liberality and latitude in the terms 
of conformity, the lawfulness of clerical conformity had been but little can- 
vassed. It is not therefore surprising that Mr. Lindsey should have been at 
first shocked, and in some degree intimidated, at the prospect of the strange 
singularity of the measure which he had in contemplation. After the resig- 
nation of Dr. Robertson, he was much affected and encouraged by the exam- 
ple of that venerable confessor. 



36 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. i. 



state of things in which there was no flaw or hardship. 
That if there was a general tendency in what Was esta- 
blished to serve the interest of virtue and true religion, 
I ought to rest satisfied and wait for a change in other 
incidental matters that were grievous to me, but not ge- 
nerally felt by others. That in the mean time I had it 
in my power to forward the desired work, by preparing 
men's minds for it, whenever there should be a disposi- 
tion in the state to rectify what was amiss. Therefore, 
if I could in any way of interpretation reconcile the pre- 
scribed forms with the scripture in my own mind, and 
make myself easy, I was not only justified, but to be com- 
mended." 

Being influenced by these considerations to regard it 
as a duty to retain his station in the church, the great 
difficulty now was, to devise some way of ijiterpretation, 
by which to reconcile the prescribed form of Trinitarian 
worship with his own just and scriptural view of the pro- 
per unity of God, and that the Father alone is to be 
worshiped. In comparison with this, the objection against 
subscription to the articles appeared to Mr. Lindsey to be 
of trivial account: or rather as a less intricate case under 
the same problem. And the method which he took to 
satisfy his mind upon this subject, he thus describes. 

" I brought myself to consider the Trinitarian forms 
in the liturgy, and the invocations at the entrance of the 
litany, as a threefold representation of the one God, the 
Father, governing all things by himself and by his Son 
and Spirit ; and as a threefold way of addressing him as 
a Creator and original benevolent cause of all things, as 
Redeemer of mankind by his Son, and their Sanctifier by 
his Holy Spirit*. 



* This, which is usually called the Sahellian hypothesis, and which differs 
only in words from the proper Unitarian doctrine, was advanced by the 



CH. I.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



17 



"I took all opportunities, both in public and privately, 
to bear my testimony to this great truth of Holy Scrip- 
ture, that there is but one God the Father, with great 
plainness and without any reserve. And I hoped I was 
laying a good foundation to build on for those that come 
after me, when the time of a further reformation should 
come; and that I might thus innocently continue in a 
church where there were many things I disapproved, and 
wished to have amended, as I knew not where I might 
be in any degree alike useful." 

These were the considerations, which, as Mr. Lindsey 
expresses it, were of weight to divert him then from the 
thought of quitting his station in the church, and which 
brought him in time to remain tolerably quiet and easy 
in it. But however plausible these arguments might be, 
and whatever real weight some of these considerations 
might possess, they were not likely to maintain a perma- 
nent ascendency over the honourable, ingenuous, and 
inquiring mind of this excellent man ; and in his Apology, 



learned Dr. Wallis, Savilian professor of mathematics at Oxford, and well 
received by the university, in opposition to the hypothesis of three infinite 
minds, maintained by the celebrated Di\ Sherlock, which underwent a pub- 
lic censure. 

" This reasoning," says Dr. Wallis, alluding to the objections of the Uni- 
tarians, "is grounded on this silly mistake, that a divine person is as much 
as to say a Divinity or a God, when indeed a divine person is only a mode, or 
rasped, or relation of God to his creatures. He beareth to his creatures 
these three relations, modes, or respects, that he is their Creator, their Re- 
deemer, their Sanctifier: this is what we mean, and all that we mean, when 
we say God is three persons. He hath those three relations to his creatures, 
and is thereby no more three Gods than he was three Gods to the Jews be- 
cause he calleth himself the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God 
of Jacob." See Considex'ations on the Explications of the Doctrine of the 
Trinity, p. 7, 1693, apud Lindsey's Apology, p. 227- The learned professor 
might have spared his supercilious reflection upon the understandings of his 
Unitarian brethren, whose only error consisted in taking common words in 
their common acceptation. Is Dr. Wallis's doctrine that which still prevails 
in the learned university ? If so, the pure Unitarian doctrine is much more 
extensively diffused than many of its most zealous advocates imagine. Happy 
would it be for the cause of truth, if, when error is detected and discarded, the" 
language of error were discarded with it. 

C 



is 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. 1. 



he frankly and with great humility acknowledges their 
invalidity, and his own infirmity in yielding to them. 

"Not," says he, p. 225, "that I now justify myself 
therein. Yea, rather I condemn myself. But as I have 
humble hope of the divine forgiveness, let not men be 
too rigid in their censures. Let those only blame and 
condemn, who know what it is to doubt, — to be in per- 
plexity about things of the highest importance, — to be 
in fear of causelessly abandoning a station assigned by 
Providence, and being found idle and unprofitable when 
the Great Master came to call for the account of the 
talent received." He must be a very severe moralist 
whom such a concession does not satisfy. 

These reflections however occurred at a subsea^ient 
period. For the present, Mr. Lindsey had made up his 
mind to continue as an officiating minister in the esta- 
blished church; and with those views and in this posture 
of mind, in the month of November 1763, he took pos- 
session of his vicarage of Catterick, fully determined to 
seek out and accept of no other preferment, and expect- 
ing " here quietly to have ended his days^," though it 
pleased God in his providence to order it otherwise. 

No sooner w 7 as Mr. Lindsey settled in his new situa- 
tion than he applied himself with great assiduity, in his 
extensive and populous parish, to perform the duties of 
a parochial minister. He regularly officiated twice on 
the Sunday in his parish church, and in the interval be- 
tween the services he catechized young people. He vi- 
sited the sick, he relieved the poor, he established and 
supported charity-schools for the children, he spent con- 
siderable sums of money in feeding the hungry, in cloth- 
ing the naked, in providing medicines for tbe diseased, 
and in purchasing and distributing books for the instruc- 



* See Farewell Address to the Parishioners at Catterick, p. 1. 



CH. 1.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



19 



tion of the ignorarit. In his domestic arrangements, the 
greatest ceconomy was observed, that he and his excel- 
lent lady might have the greater surplus to expend in li- 
berality and charity : for it was a rule with him to lay up 
nothing from the income of his living. u It is a great 
satisfaction," says he, in his Farewell Address, p. 7, " at 
this, my departure from you, that I can truly say I have 
coveted no man's silver, nor gold, nor apparel. In no- 
thing have I made a gain of you, or sought to enrich my- 
self; nor am I enriched by you at all; but what was over 
and above the supply of necessary wants, has been freely 
expended in what was thought might be most useful for 
your present benefit and future happiness. I have not 
sought yours but you." 

His instructions, public and private, were judiciously 
adapted to the state of his hearers. "I have endeavour- 
ed," says he, p. 8, <c to teach you the truth which Christ 
our Lord taught, as far as I was able to learn it by an 
impartial and diligent search of the Holy Scriptures. 
And I often reminded you, that you were not to believe 
any thing because spoken by me, but to examine and 
compare how far it was agreeable to Holy Scripture, our 
only rule and guide." 

His discourses were scriptural and practical, consist- 
ing, as he says, " altogether of expositions of large por- 
tions of the New Testament, with such inferences as 
naturally and plainly flowed from them," In these dis- 
courses, he adds, "I was led continually to point out 
to you that religion lay not in outward forms and ordi- 
nances, even of God's own appointment, though they be 
helps to it; but in an entire conversion and devotedness 
of the heart to God, influencing to sobriety, chastity, bro- 
therly love, kindness, integrity, in all your conversation ; 
to do every thing out of a sense of duty to God, ever pre- 
sent with and supporting us in life ; and chiefly for his 

c 2 



20 



MEMOIRS OF THE LAfE 



[CH. I. 



infinite love to us in Christ Jesus our Lord, by whom he 
hath called Us to his eternal glory." 

Mr. Lindsey often pressed upon his village hearers the 
duty of family religion. " That every house should be 
a little church as it were, wherein all the members of it 
were carefully instructed in the things of God; and once 
at least at the close of each day called together to join in 
a short prayer to God." This he represented as a con - 
stant check upon parents in their daily conduct; as a 
means of inducing them to hasten home with pleasure 
after their labours were over ; of making their families 
orderly and happy; of preventing early depravity and cor- 
ruption in the youth of both sexes ; and of training them 
up in habits of piety and virtue. 

He still more inculcated upon them the necessity of 
keeping the Lord's day holy* " As many of each family 
as can be allowed, to attend the public worship of the 
great Creator and heavenly Father, and to be mindful 
afterwards of a suitable employment of time at home. 
For the spending one part of this sacred day in unneces* 
sary worldly cares, or in sports and diversions, tends to 
efface every serious impression made on the mind on the 
other part ; and by degrees leads to spend the. whole of it 
in the same ungodly sort. Not that the service of God 
is to make us morose, or sad and uncheerful at this or 
at any time. There are ways of passing this holy day in 
walking out and contemplating the works of God, in 
pleasing charitable offices to our neighbours, and in in- 
nocent useful conversation, which will cheer and refresh 
both mind and body far beyond all those noisy and riot- 
ous games, always accompanied with profane oaths, and 
generally ending in the alehouse or worse." — Ibid. 

Thus did this truly apostolic man, at the conclusion 
of his ten years ministerial labours in the parish of Cat- 
terick, modestly yet firmly appeal to those who had been 



CH. I.J REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



21 



the constant witnesses of his life and doctrine, to bear 
their testimony to the simplicity, fidelity, and zeal with 
which he had instructed them in the truths of divine re- 
velation, and to the unblameableness and the uniform 
disinterestedness of his conduct. He laments that he 
had not seen so much of the fruits of his labours among 
them as he desired. But, he adds, "I would not now 
complain. Let us all make haste to repent and amend, 
for the time is short. I would hope that more good may 
have been done than I know of ; and that there are more 
truly pious than the few that appear to be so ; and that 
some seed of the word which has been sown, may here- 
after spring up and bear good fruit." — Ibid. p. 11. 

To the exemplary conduct of this venerable man in 
the discharge of his official duties, and in particular to 
his interesting and condescending manner of communi- 
cating instruction to the young and the ignorant, I will- 
ingly transcribe the eloquent testimony of an early and 
attentive hearer and witness, who was also a frequent vi* 
sitor at his house, and through life an ardent and grate- 
ful admirer, to whose narrative I have before alluded. 

ec Young at the time," says Mrs. Cappe in her elegant 
Memoir of Mr. Lindsey in the Monthly Repository, " un- 
informed, and accustomed to the society of those among 
my general acquaintance who form their estimate of right 
and wrong in the scale of commonly-received opinion, I 
was little qualified to comprehend, or duly to appretiate, 
the full excellence of such a character; yet I was exceed- 
ingly interested by the amiable unassuming disposition 
of my new friend ; by the patience with which he endea- 
voured to set right every mistake or prejudice ; by his to- 
tal disregard of every personal indulgence; and by his 
unwearied solicitude to make all around him good and 
happy. It was the constant subject of his thoughts in 



22 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cK. I. 

what way he could most effectually benefit the people 
committed to his care, whether in their temporal or eter- 
nal interests. And to this end a plan of great frugality 
was adopted by himself and Mrs. Lindsey, who perfectly 
acceded to his views, that they might have the power of 
distributing books, in aid of personal instruction; of giv- 
ing medicines to the sick, and food to those who were 
ready to perish with hunger. But it was on a Sunday 
evening chiefly, when the labours of the day were over, 
a day devoted to the public and private instruction of the 
congregation at large, of the children of those who com- 
posed it, of servants and otheis who attended in his own 
study, that the irradiations of a mind so heavenly were 
the most striking. Never shall I forget, as he walked 
across the room with cheerful and animated step, unmind- 
ful of weariness or fatigue, discoursing, perhaps, on the 
beauties of creation, the goodness of God every where 
manifested, the perfect example of Christ, or on the he- 
roism and virtue of martyrs and confessors gone to their 
reward, how his eyes would sparkle with delight. When, 
he would say, will the happy time arrive, that all men will 
be virtuous and happy ?" 

In this pleasing manner, and with these promising 
prospects, did Mr. Lindsey commence his career at Cat- 
terick. Surrounded with parishioners who idolized him ; 
in the neighbourhood of friends who loved him, and whose 
society charmed and edified him ; and engaged in offices 
most delightful to himself and useful to others, he de- 
voted himself wholly to the duties of his ministry, and 
aspired to no other preferment. 



CH. II.] 



REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



23 



CHAPTER II. 

FROM MR. LINDSEY's SETTLEMENT AT CATTERICK, TO 
HIS RESIGNATION OF THAT VICARAGE, A. D. 1773. 

But this sunshine of felicity did not continue long with- 
out interruption : Mr. Lindsey's ingenuous mind could 
not satisfy itself in a compromise with sincerity, A dan- 
gerous fit of sickness roused his conscience, and he be- 
came secretly but firmly resolved to seek an opportunity 
to relinquish a situation which was no longer supportable. 
The further process of his mind upon this interesting 
occasion I shall state in his own words *, 

" I could not now satisfy myself with Dr. Wallis's and 
the like softenings and qualifications of the Trinitarian 
forms in the liturgy. I wondered how I had been able 
to bring myself to imagine that I was worshiping the 
Father in spirit and in truth, whilst I was addressing two 
other persons, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, 
and imploring favours severally of them in terms that 
implied their personality, and distinct agency and deity, 
as much as that of the Father f. 



* Apology, p. 230. 

f This miserable casuistry, for such it now appeared to the venerable man 
who had formerly been entangled in its web, silenced the scruples of many 
of the learned Unitarians at the close of the 17th century, and induced them 
to acquiesce in conformity to the established form of worship ; while con-* 
trary to the obvious meaning of the words, they interpreted the language 
of the liturgy in a Unitarian sense upon the principles of Dr. Wallis's Ex- 
planation of the Trinity, and of the Oxford Decree. Amongst others, the 
celebrated Thomas Firmin, the friend of Tillotson and the patron of the 
poor, who made no secret of his Unitarian principles, from which, at the par- 
ticular request of Queen Mary, the pious archbishop in vain laboured to re- 
claim him, was influenced by these considerations to adhere to the commu- 
nion of the established church, and to dissuade others from separating from 
it. His friend John Biddle appears to have seen the question in a juster 
light; and rather chose to suffer imprisonment and banishment than to 
join in worship, the language of which, however he might interpret it to his 
own satisfaction, must necessarily convey an erroneous sense to the majority 
of those who use it. — See the Life of Firmin, p. 14, ed, 1791. 



24 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II. 



" If invocations so particular, language so express and 
personal, might be sifted and explained away into prayer 
to one God only, I might, by the like supposals and in- 
terpretation, bring myself to deify and pray to the Virgin 
Mary, and maintain that I was still only praying to the 
one God; who was thus invoked in his creature that was 
so nearly united to him. 

" It appeared to me a blameable duplicity, that whilst 
I was praying to the one God the Father, the people that 
heard me were led, by the language I used, to address 
themselves to two other persons or distinct intelligent 
agents : for they would never subtilize so far as to fancy 
the Son and Holy Spirit to be merely two modes, or re- 
spects, or relations of God to them. 

" As one great design of our Saviours mission was to 
promote the knowledge and worship of the Father, the 
only_ true God, as he himself tells us, I could not think 
it allowable or lawful for me, on any imagined prospect 
of doing good, to be instrumental in carrying on a wor- 
ship which I believed directly contrary to the mind of 
Christ, and condemned by him. 

" If it be a rule in morals, quod dubitas ne feceris, it 
is still more evident that we are not to do any thing that 
we know to be evil ; no, not to procure the greatest good. 
For God does not want my sinful act. It would be im- 
pious to suppose that he cannot carry on his government, 
and promote the felicity of his creatures without it. And 
although in his providence he may bring good out of any 
evil, he will not let the doer of it go unpunished. And 
if any thing be evil and odious in his sight, prevarication 
and falsehood is such ; and most of all an habitual course 
thereof in the most solemn act a creature can be engaged 
in, — the worship of him, the holy all-seeing God." 

While these thoughts were passing through Mr. Lind- 
say's mind, and probably before he had formed an abso- 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS JLINDSEY. 



25 



lute and final determination upon the subject, he had the 
happiness to be introduced to the acquaintance of two 
persons, like-minded with himself, whom he ever after- 
wards numbered amongst his most intimate and confi- 
dential friends, and whose friendship he with reason re- 
garded as among the greatest consolations and blessings 
of his life. These were the Rev. William Turner, the 
learned, liberal, and pious minister of the Presbyterian 
congregation at Wakefield in Yorkshire, and the cele- 
brated Dr. Priestley, then a dissenting minister at Leeds. 
Early in the summer of the year 176y, these gentlemen 
met Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey by appointment at the house 
of Archdeacon Blackburne at Richmond, where they 
passed some days together in that unreserved and de- 
lightful interchange of sentiments, and in those free and 
amicable discussions which would naturally take place 
among persons of high intellectual attainments, in whose 
estimation the discoveries of divine revelation held the 
most honourable place, and who were all equally ani- 
mated with the same ardent love of truth, and with the 
same generous zeal for civil and religious liberty. 

This memorable interview made a favourable and last- 
ing impression upon the minds of all the parties, and was 
followed with very important consequences. It gave 
birth to friendships between the strangers who were then 
first introduced to each other, which improved rapidly 
upon further acquaintance, which were ever afterwards a 
source of the highest; mutual satisfaction and improve- 
ment, which continued unimpaired to the end of life, and 
will no doubt be resumed under happier auspices in a 
better and immortal state. 

In a letter from the Archdeacon to Mr. Turner, which 
is now before me, and which was written soon afterwards, 
he says : " I have had Mr. Lindsey's thanks in form, for 
bringing him acquainted with two valuable men. The 



20 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II. 



company of such worthies as Mr. Turner and Dr. Priest- 
ley is one of my luxuries ; and the last small taste I had 
of it s will make me long till another opportunity affords 
me a second course. And I had the less relish for the 
dessert, (I mean the rambles,) as it was a kind of inter- 
ruption of that conversation for which I am always sharp 
set. Friend Lindsey can talk and even dispute on horse? 
back. In that situation I am sure to fall into reveries, 
and often forget both myself and my company ; and for 
something of that sort which might look like ill manners, 
I believe I ought to make an apology in our pilgrimage 
to Master Buncle's cave*." 

Dr. Priestley, in the interesting Memoir of himself, 
mentions this introduction to Mr. Lindsey as one of the 
greatest blessings of his life. Speaking of the connexions 
he formed during his residence at Leeds, he adds, 

" Here it was that, in consequence of a visit which in 
company with Mr. Turner I made to Archdeacon Black- 
burne at Richmond, I first met with Mr. Lindsey, then 
of Catterick, and a correspondence and intimacy com- 
menced, which have been the source of more real satis- 
faction to me than any other circumstance in my whole 
life. He soon discovered to me that he was uneasy in 
his situation, and had thoughts of quitting it. At first 



* Mr. Turner was as eminent for prudence as he was for learning, piety, 
and liberality of sentiment. An intimate friendship was formed between 
this gentleman and Mr. Lindsey soon after the interview at Richmond, and 
an interesting and confidential correspondence took place, which only ter- 
minated by disability on the part of Mr. Turner from age and infirmity. It 
was then taken up by his son, the present highly respected minister of the 
Unitarian congregation at Newcastle upon Tyne, and continued till Mr. Lind- 
sey himself became disabled by the infirmities of age. To the kindness of 
this gentleman the author is indebted for a sight of Mr. Lindsey's letters; of 
which it will be perceived that a liberal, though it is hoped not an improper 
use has been made in the course of the narrative. It will easily be conceived 
that Mr. Lindsey was not deficient in expressions of affection and esteem. 
How high a value he set upon the friendship of these excellent men, will be 
seen from various extracts of letters to Mr. Turner, which will be introduced 
in the sequel of this Memoir. 



CH. II.] REVEREND THE.OPHILUS MNDSEY. 27 

I was not forward to encourage him in it, but rather ad- 
vised him to make what alteration he thought proper in 
the offices of the church, and leave it to his superiors to 
dismiss him if they chose. But his better judgement and 
greater fortitude led him to give up all connexion with 
the established church of his own accord 

Mr. Turner was not less sensible than Dr. Priestley of 
the value of Mr. Lindsey's friendship ; nnd to these two 
excellent men, of spirits congenial with his own, did this 
venerable confessor first communicate his intention of 
resigning his preferment in the church. And that, not 
to ask their advice upon the subject, for his resolution 
was already fixed, but to consult with them concerning 
the proper time and manner of accomplishing this ex- 
traordinary design, and to derive that support and com- 
fort which a virtuous mind, in trying circumstances, needs 
and seeks from the sympathy and kind suggestions of 
enlightened and generous friends, who having adopted 
similar principles enter cordially into all its views, feel- 
ings,, and difficulties, and by seasonable counsel, and ten- 
der expressions of encouragement and approbation, soothe 
and tranquillize the emotions of an anxious and disquieted 
spirit. 

Mr. Lindsey was now in a situation to need all the 
comfort which his friends could administer. This vene- 
rable man was no professed ascetic : he was no enthu- 
siast or visionary. He had ever lived in a station of ease 
and affluence, and comparatively high consideration . His 
company had been sought after by the opulent, the learn- 
ed, and the great. Nor was he insensible to the advan- 
tages and the comforts of an eminent and respectable 
station. He had not been at all accustomed to struggle 
with difficulties, or to endure the privations and the ob- 



* Dr. Priestley's Memoirs, p. 61, London edition. 



28 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. II. 

scurity of indigence. His delight had been to employ 
his affluence in doing good, and he had even made con- 
science of saving nothing for his own use from the reve- 
nues of his living. 

He was fully apprized, that if he carried his present 
virtuous resolution into effect, the scene would soon be 
changed, " To leave a station of ease and affluence," 
(he observes in his Farewell Address to his Parishioners 
at Catterick,) " and to have to combat with various straits 
and hardships of an uncertain world, affords but a dark 
prospect." Instead of opulence and high estimation in 
the world, he clearly foresaw that the step he was about 
to take would entail poverty, contempt, neglect, and car 
lumny. He could not but be sensible that by the ma- 
jority of those who either knew him or who might hear 
of his withdrawing from the church, and who could not or 
would not duly appreciate his motives, his. conduct would 
be severely censured as rash, fanatical, and absurd. He 
expected that his means of usefulness, whether in the 
way of instruction or beneficence, would he exceedingly 
reduced, if not entirely annihilated. Among the dissent- 
ers his connexions were very limited, and he had little 
prospect of encouragement. By the great majority of 
them his principles and his person would be regarded 
with horror # . Not many even of those societies which 

* They now are deem'd the faithful and are prais'd, 

Who, constant only in rejecting Thee, 

Deny thy Godhead with a martyr's zeal, 

And quit their office for their error's sake. 

Blind, and in love with darkness ! Cowper. 
Such is the language of our admired poet, whose gloomy system of theon 
logy cast a deeper shade upon the natural morbid tendency of his constitu- 
tion, and involved his innocent and tender spirit in the darkest clouds of re- 
ligious melancholy, under which he sunk in sad, despondency to the grave. 
Peace to his hallowed ashes ! When the last trumpet shall summon the 
sleeping sufferer from the tomb, free from the oppressive chain of ignorance 
and infirmity, he will rejoice to rind the Parent of the human race infinitely 
more kind and merciful to his erring offspring than hrs rigid system, so 
much at war with his gentle temper, led him to believe 3 and will greet with 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



29 



call themselves rational and liberal would endure to hear 
the pure Unitarian doctrine ; and very few indeed, would 
justly appreciate the sublime principles and the exem- 
plary character of this faithful servant of Christ. Andj 
as he observes with great feeling, it was a severe aggra- 
vation of his distress, in the prospect of straits and diffi- 
culties, that he was not alone involved in them. The 
person who was most justly the dearest in the world to 
him must share in his privations and sufferings. And 



delight on their thrones of glory, those whom his rash and misguided zeal 
had formerly consigned to regions of woe. — Let the reader forgive the above 
almost involuntary effusion of respect to departed genius, combined with 
high moral worth, but oppressed with melancholy, and entangled in a sy- 
stem the most sombre and terrific of all that have ever been grafted upon 
the mild and benevolent doctrine of Jesus. As to the rest, the sentiment 
expressed in the above quotation was certainly that of the great body of dis- 
senters at the time when it was written. It is so still ; but not to the same 
extent. Happily within the last thirty years, owing under God to the la- 
bours and sacrifices of Mr. Lindsey and others his worthy coadjutors or fol- 
lowers, " the gospel light of the knowledge of the one true God, and the 
worship to be paid to him only, as taught by Jesus Christ, has been spread- 
ing its beautiful ray through the British nation : so that many of all ranks 
begin to see with concern the striking opposition betwixt our public forms 
of worship and those laid down in the word of God." (Apology, p. 236.) And 
among the dissenting churches in particular, where there were formerly 
only one or two solitary individuals who received the proper Unitarian doc- 
trine, and who were almost afraid of avowing their belief lest they should 
be hunted out of society like wild beasts, flourishing congregations of pro- 
fessed Unitarian Christians have of late sprung up, whose conduct is an or- 
nament to their profession, and whose enlightened zeal is diffusing the sa* 
lutary odour of pure evangelical truth with a rapidity and success almost 
unprecedented. 

Nevertheless, that all the dissenters who were Mr. Lindsey's contempo* 
raries, though differing from him in doctrinal principles, were not insensible 
to his great moral worth, is evident from the correspondence of the late re- 
verend Job Orton, the able assistant and confidential friend of the late pious 
and celebrated Dr. Doddridge ; who in one of his letters published by and 
addressed to the Reverend S. Palmer, of Hackney, expresses himself in 
these words : " Were I to publish an account of silenced and ejected mini- 
sters, I should be strongly tempted to insert Mr. Lindsey in the list which 
he mentions in his Apology with so much veneration. He certainly deserves 
as much respect and honour as any one of them for the part he has acted. 
Perhaps few of them exceeded him in learning and piety. I venerate him 
as I would any of your confessors. As to his particular sentiments, they 
are nothing to me. An honest pious man, who makes such a sacrifice to 
truth and conscience as he has done, is a glorious character, and deserves 
the respect, esteem, and veneration of every true Christian." Orton's Let- 
ters, vol. ii. p. 159. 



30 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II. 



though that excellent person, as soon as his pious and 
honourable resolution was communicated, expressed the 
highest approbation of it, animated and encouraged him 
to pursue it, and urged him on with a zeal almost supe- 
rior to his own, testifying the utmost readiness to forego 
ease and comfort, and, what was the most dear of all, 
the many opportunities of active benevolence, and to ac- 
company him into the shades of solitude and poverty ; 
yet Mr. Lindsey did not on that account feel less sensi- 
bly the hardships and miseries to which his beloved and 
worthy consort would inevitably be exposed. But none 
of these things moved him. He fixed his eye upon the 
line of duty, and determined to adhere closely to it, and 
to leave the event to God. 

These were the difficulties which Mr. Lindsey foresaw, 
and which he made up his mind to encounter. But 
though the conflict of his feelings must have been inex- 
pressibly great, the delicacy of his spirit would not per- 
mit him to disclose them at large even to his most con- 
fidential friends, that he might not give them unneces- 
sary pain ; and, chiefly lest, if they were acquainted with 
all the circumstances of the case, they should endeavour 
to dissuade him from that measure which was now be- 
come the fixed purpose of his heart. " It was not till 
long after this," says Dr. Priestley, (Memoir, p. 61,) 
" that I was apprized of all the difficulties he had to 
struggle with before he could accomplish his purpose." 

It had occurred to himself, and had been suggested 
by Dr. Priestley and some other friends who knew the 
embarrassment he was under, that u he might change 
the public service of the church, and make it such as he 
could conscientiously officiate in," leaving it to his su- 
periors to dismiss him if they disapproved his conduct. 
And there was no ground to suspect that he would ever 
have met with any molestation from them; but, as Dr. 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



31 



Priestley observes, " Mr. Lindsey's better judgemen t and 
greater fortitude led him to determine the contrary." 
The foundation of this determination he has exp lained 
in his Apology, p. 237. 

" I could not," says he, " reconcile myself to change 
the public service of the church, because I looke.-d upon 
the declaration of conformity and subscription ?at insti- 
tution to be such solemnities, that I could not he easy 
under so great a violation of them. For I nrast have 
adopted all Dr. Clarke's amendments, or even more ; 
which would have been making almost a new service of 
it*." 

" But, could I have brought my own mind to it, there 
were some things in my situation in so large a parish, 
with three chapels in it, which would have made such a 
change impracticable. Not to mention also, that when 
incapacitated by sickness or removed by death,, the people 
in all probability must have returned back to their old 
forms again. In short, such an attempt would have been 
likelv, in my place, to have produced much confusion 
and perplexity 3 to say the least : and I could not see any 
adequate religious improvement or edification among my 
people likely to arise from it ; the only justifiable end of 
making such a change, and staying with them." 

The venerable writer adds : f< Upon the most calm 
and serious deliberation therefore, and weighing of every 
circumstance, I am obliged to give up my benefice, what- 
ever I suffer by it, unless I would lose all inward peace 
and hope of God's favour and acceptance in the end." 



* The following is the form of the engagement to conformity at institu- 
tion to a living before a bishop : 

'* I do declare that I will conform to the liturgy of the church of En- 
gland as it is now by law established." /L B. 

" This declaration was made and subscribed, before me by the said 
A. B. to be admitted and instituted into the reciory or vicarage, &c. in 
the year of our Lord and in the year of our consecration. ' 



32 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[_CH, II. 



Mr; Lindsey was encouraged and fortified in his vir- 
tuous resolution # by the example of those pious and con- 
scientious clergymen, who in the year 1662, on the 24th 
of August, the too memorable Bartholomew day, being 
the day oil which the Act of Uniformity was carried into 
effect, to the number of two thousand suffered themselves 
to be ejected and silenced, rather than submit to the new 
impositions, and subscribe and conform to the liturgy and 
articles against their consciences ; " a lo?ig list" conti- 
nues Mr. Lindsey, <c that does honour to human nature, 
and to our own country in particular, which has hitherto 
taken the lead in the restoration of God's true religion." 

But the example which if possible pressed with still 
greater weight upon his thoughts, and which urged, and, 
if I may so express it, even stung his tender and upright 
mind to a decisive resolution upon the subject, was the 
recent and affecting but little noticed case of the Reverend 
Dr. William Robertson, who in the year 1760, having 
embraced Unitarian principles, though he had a large 
family and very slender means of subsistence, for the 



* Mr. Lindsey was particularly struck with the following pious and af- 
fecting soliloquy of Mr. Oldfield, an ejected minister of Carsington in Der- 
byshire, whose private papers fell into Dr. Calamy's hands. 

« When thou canst no longer continue in thy work without dishonour to 
God, discredit to religion, foregoing thy integrity, wounding conscience, 
spoiling thy peace, and hazarding the loss of thy salvation ; in a word, when 
the conditions upon which thou must continue (if thou wilt continue) in thy 
employments are sinful and unwarranted by the word of God, thou mayest, 
yea thou must believe that God will turn thy very silence, suspension, de- 
privation, and laying aside, to his glory and the advancement of the gospel's 
interest. When God will not use thee in one kind, yet he will in another. 
A soul that desires to serve and honour him shall never want opportunity 
to do it ; nor must thou so limit the Holy One of Israel, as to think he hath 
but one way in which he can glorify himself by thee. He can do it by thy 
silence as well as by thy preaching : thy laying aside as well as thy conti- 
nuance in thy work. It is not pretence of doing God the greatest service, 

or performing the weightiest duty, that will excuse the least sin, though 
that sin capacitated or gave us the opportunity for the doing that duty. Thou 
wilt have little thanks, O my Soul, if when thou art charged with corrupting 
God's worship, falsifying thy vows, &c. thou pretendest a necessity for it in 
order to a continuance in the ministry." Calamy's Account of ejected Mi- 
nisters, vol, ii. p. 175. 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPtflLUS LINDSEY. 



33 



sake of preserving his integrity inviolate, resigned a va- 
luable preferment and the offer of much better in the 
diocese of Ferns in Ireland. This venerable confessor, 
in his affecting epistle to his worthy diocesan Dr. Ro- 
binson, afterwards the celebrated Primate of Ireland, 
who was anxious to retain him in the church, expresses 
himself thus : 

" In debating this matter with myself, besides the ar- 
guments directly to the purpose, several strong collateral 
considerations came in upon the positive side of the ques- 
tion. The streightness of my circumstances pressed me 
close; a numerous family quite unprovided for, pleaded 
with the most pathetic and moving eloquence. And the 
infirmities and wants of age, now coming fast upon me, 
were urged feelingly. But one single consideration pre- 
vailed over all these — That the Creator and Governor 
of the universe, whom it is my first duty to worship and 
adore, being the God of truth, it must be disagreeable 
to him to profess, subscribe, or declare, in any matter 
relating to his worship and service, what is not believed 
strictly and simply to be true^." 

"The example of this worthy person," saysMr.Lindsey, 
Apology, p. 239, "has been a secret reproach to me ever 
since I heard of it. For I thought, and perhaps justly, 
that he might not have all those reasons of dislike to our 
established forms of worship that I had : and though 
myself not without unknown straits and difficulties to 
struggle with, and not alone involved in them, yet have 
I not all those dissuasives and discouragements that he 
paints forth in his affecting letter to the Bishop of Ferns, 
subjoined to his instructive and learned work." 

Mr. Lindsey's purpose being now irrevocably fixed 

* This epistle is annexed to a small publication of Dr. Robertson's, en- 
titled An Attempt to explain the words Reason, Substance, &c. Of this ex- 
cellent man some further account will be given in the sequel of this narrative. 

D 



34 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II. 



quietly to retire from the established church, he only 
waited for a favourable opportunity of carrying his ho- 
nourable design into effect. 

In the mean time an event occurred which induced 
Mr. Lindsey for the present to postpone his intended 
resignation. This was an Association formed in the year 
1771, by some of the clergy of the established church 
and a few of the laity, for the purpose of making an ap- 
plication to parliament to obtain relief in the matter of 
subscription ; that a declaration of assent to the suffi- 
ciency of the Holy Scriptures might be substituted in 
lieu of subscription to the thirty-nine articles and the 
book of Common Prayer. Mr, Lindsey from the be- 
ginning " entertained very slender hopes of success. 
Least of all did he expect that reformation in the liturgy 
would be carried to such an extent as to make it practi- 
cable for him,, with a safe conscience, to retain his situa- 
tion in the church. But he was anxious to avoid the 
charge of precipitancy. He would not leave room for 
cavillers to allege that he had deserted his post before 
he knew that such a step would be necessary. And he 
thought that after having waited the issue of this impor- 
tant measure, his resignation would be more justifiable 
in the sight of the world, and would produce a better 
effect*." 

This application to parliament originated in the great 
impression which was made upon the public mind, and 
especially upon the minds of many of the learned, liberal, 



* " From the first that I engaged," says Mr. Lindsey, Apology, p. 235, 
" With the associated clergy for procuring the removal of subscription to 
formularies of faith and doctrine drawn up by fallible men, I foresaw that if 
no relief was obtained, nor any prospect opened of a reformation of the liturgy 
with regard to the great object of worship, or of a disposition to indulge a 
latitude to private persons to make discretionary alterations in it for them- 
selves by the express rule of holy Scripture ; it would certainly terminate, 
as to myself, in resignation of my office in the church 3 and I thought this 
would be a fitting season for it." 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



35 



and serious clergy, by the celebrated work of Archdeacon 
Blackburne, entitled The Confessional. At the desire 
of some of his brethren the Archdeacon published in the 
beginning of the year 1/71, " Proposals for an applica- 
tion to parliament for relief in the matter of subscrip- 
tion, &c. humbly submitted to the consideration, of the 
learned and conscientious clergy." In consequence of 
these proposals, a meeting of the clergy residing in or 
near the metropolis was advertised for the 17th of July, 
when it was unanimously agreed to form an Association 
for the purpose of applying to the legislature for relief. 
This from the place of meeting was called The Feathers 
Tavern Association ; and an excellent petition having 
been drawn up by the Archdeacon, was adopted by the 
Association and circulated through the country with great 
industry, in order to obtain signatures previous to the 
meeting of parliament. 

It is almost needless to add, that in a cause so right 
and honourable in itself, and so congenial to his prin- 
ciples and feelings, Mr. Lindsey exerted himself with 
more than his usual activity and ardour. He undertook 
to solicit signatures in the extensive district where he 
resided ; and for the purpose of adding names to this 
venerable list, he spared neither labour nor expense*. 
For this end, he travelled upwards of two thousand miles 
at the worst season of the year, and often through roads 
which were almost impassable. But his success did not 
correspond with his labours and his hopes. The majority, 

* In a letter upon this subject to his confidential friend Mr. afterwards 
Dr. Jebb, Mr. Lindsey says, " I own to you, sir, I cannot but be greatly in- 
terested in a cause in which I bless God that I have an opportunity to engage 
and declare myself ; and for which I do not know, with the help of God, the 

pains or sufferings that I would refuse. 1 have offered, and if health 

be permitted will carry the petition to Kendal in Westmoreland, to Newcastle 
in Northumberland, to York and Wakefield ; all places at a very great di- 
stance from me, and in which labours I am alone without any assistance what- 
ever." — See Mr. Joyce's excellent Memoir of Mr. Lindsey in the Monthly 
Magazine for December 1808. 

D 2 



36 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [ CH - IIr 

as usual, saw no reason for any alteration ; the violent 
and bigoted expressed their abhorrence of the under- 
taking, and calumniated the motives of the petitioners * 
the cautious and timid were unwilling to commit them- 
selves, and thought it more prudent to defer the appli- 
cation* ; and some, of whom better hopes were enter- 
tained, and who were known to be in their judgement 
friendly to the objects, unexpectedly hesitated and drew 
back at the critical moment, and instead of their signa- 
tures they could only proffer their good wishes. 

" These well-disposed and good sort of men," says* 
Mr. Lindsey in a letter dated November 19, 1 77 1 , 
written just after his return from one of these fruitless 
circuits, " have done the cause more harm than they in- 
tended. They may wait long before the season of refor- 
mation comes, and their brethren of the clergy and the 
governing powers be more inclined to promote it than 
they are at present. May they have no regrets in reflect- 
ing that Providence put it in their power to bring on the 
desired season, and propagate the requisite dispositions 
and zeal for relieving the oppressed truth of God by their 
much-wanted example ! I really never expected success 
in this our undertaking ; and still less, since I have had 
cause to observe the desertion of many from whom one 
might have expected better. And yet I do not give it 
up for gone ; nor will those worthy persons who have 
taken an active part in promoting it. ,r 

In another letter to the same friend, dated Decem- 
ber 21, 1771, and written soon after his return from a 
general meeting of the Association in London on the 
11th, in which it was finally determined to present the 
petition to parliament during the present session, after 
stating the violent opposition which was expected from 



* It has been observed by an elegant writer, that the verb reform wants 

the present tense. 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS L1NDSEY. 3/ 

the University of Oxford, from Lord North, from the 
Methodists and others, Mr. Lindsey adds, 

" Be the event, however, what it may, still good, much 
good I am sure has arisen, and more will rise from this 
shaking of the stagnant waters, and stirring up of better 
principles. Political statesmen without any principle are 
afraid of disturbances which may hurt the enjoyment of 
their ease and emoluments. Political divines, and re- 
verend unbelievers and half believers, are still more 
haunted with fears of the like kind. Bigots are enraged 
at the thought of a free rational examination of the Holy 
Scriptures. Whilst serious and honest men, for such 
there are in all places, rejoice at the Christian and Pro- 
testant undertaking." 

The petitioners, though comparatively few in number, 
not amounting to two hundred and fifty, were of high 
consideration in point of talents, of learning, and of 
moral worth. The names of Lindsey, of Blaekburne, of 
Wyvill, of Jebb, of Law, of Disney, of Chambers, and 
many others, are such as would do honour to any cause. 
The majority were clergymen ; the rest were gentlemen 
of the professions of law and medicine, who thus entered 
their protest against the yoke of subscription imposed 
upon students at the universities who had no view to the 
clerical office . 

It being determined by the Association not to defer 
the petition to another session, the petitioners and their 
friends were very active in soliciting the support of those 
members of the House of Commons who might be dis- 
posed to listen to their arguments. Their reception in 
general was civil, but not very encouraging. Many re- 
garded the object of the petition as frivolous ; and many 
believed, or pretended to believe, that it would be hazard- 
ous to meddle with the Articles. The prevailing opi- 
nion was, that the application was ill-timed, and that it 



38 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II. 



was best to let religion alone. Some, however, who 
were in the foremost rank for talents, integrity, and elo- 
quence, took up the cause with great ardour, and pro- 
mised their most zealous support. The state of the bu- 
siness is thus represented in a letter from John Lee, Esq. 
who was afterwards Solicitor General, to a friend in the 
country, dated January 31, 1772. 

" It will surprise you who live in the country, and con- 
sequently have not been informed of the discoveries of 
the metropolis, to hear that the Christian religion is 
thought to be an object unworthy of the least attention ; 
and that it is not only the most prudent, but the most 
virtuous and benevolent thing in the world to divert 
men's minds from such foolish subjects with all the dex- 
terity that can be. This is no exaggeration, I assure 
you: on the contrary, it seems to be the opinion (and 
their conduct will show it) of nine-tenths of both houses 
of parliament. On Thursday a committee -of petitioners 
waited upon Lord North to apprize him of the nature of 
their application, and to inform themselves of his inten- 
tion concerning this matter. He received them with 
great courtesy, commended the decency of the petition 
itself ; but before he parted with them, he told them that 
all with whom he had conversed were of opinion that 
innovations would be very improper. Mr. Pitt, the 
nephew of Lord Chatham, has undertaken to second the 
motion, and I am sure he will acquit himself ably. I 
spoke with him on the subject, and he understands it 
very well. Lord George Germaine is hearty in the cause, 
has studied the controversy, and speaks admirably. Mr. 
Dunning has promised me to attend it; and.as his abi- 
lities are unequalled by any man's I ever knew, I hope 
he will do honour to the cause and to himself. Some 
others there are of less note, who will enter into the de- 
bate ; yet such a general confederacy is there against the 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



39 



measure, that I do not believe we shall divide forty mem- 
bers, perhaps not twenty ; yet the debate will do honour 
to the petitioners, though at present no good to the cause. 
Perhaps it may excite an attention to the subject ; and 
who knows what time may do ? This may cure Dr. 
Priestley of writing divinity, which, to be sure, hardly 
any body minds . Yet I do not think our sons are more 
honest, our daughters more chaste, our liberties more 
sacred, or our property more secure, than in the days 
when it was thought no dishonour to read or to believe 
the Scripture." 

This able advocate, whose powers were equalled by 
few, and whose integrity was surpassed by none, the 
worthy and confidential friend of Mr. Lindsey and Br. 
Priestley, and Mr. Turner, was engaged to exert his su- 
perior abilities and energetic eloquence in pleading the 
cause which he so well understood, and which he had so 
much at heart, if the petitioners had been permitted to 
be heard by counsel at the bar of the House of Commons. 
" If I attend at the bar," says he, " I will do my utmost 
to serve the petitioners ; but I fear counsel will not be 
permitted." 

On the 6th of February 1/72, agreeably to the reso* 
lution of the general meeting, the petition was presented 
to the House of Commons. It was introduced with a 
very neat and appropriate speech by Sir William Mere- 
dith, the member for Liverpool ; Lord John Cavendish 
and Sir George Savile having declined the office, not 
from any want of zeal for the cause, but because they 
did not consider themselves as sufficiently masters of the 
subject. It was intended by the minister that the peti- 
tion should be treated civilly, be laid upon the table, and 
the consideration of it adjourned for six months. It was 
Lord North's policy, if possible, to preclude debate upon 
so delicate a subject. But the intemperate zeal or the 



40 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II, 



secret instructions of Sir Roger Newdigate, one of the 
members for the University of Oxford, a gentleman of 
mild dispositions and exemplary character in private life,, 
happily defeated the artful policy of the noble Lord, and 
gave rise to one of the most interesting and animated 
debates that was ever heard in that house ; "a debate," 
as Mr. Lindsey expresses it in a letter to a friend, (i which 
entered gloriously into the whole merits of our cause ; 
and which was well worth going two hundred and forty 
miles to hear." It lasted for eight hours. Of this de- 
bate I will take the liberty to introduce a brief account 
extracted from a letter of the learned gentleman above 
mentioned to his friend in the country, 

" Sir William Meredith in a few words informed the 
House that he had in his hands a petition of a number 
of respectable clergy and others, praying relief in the 
matter of subscription ; and therefore he moved that it 
might be brought up. Mr. T. Pitt seconded the mo- 
tion. On this, Sir Roger Newdigate rose up in great 
anger, and demanded to know what the contents of the 
petition were, and what the number and names of the 
men who had subscribed it. Sir William then read the 
petition in his place, and a few of the names, adding, 
that the number was about two hundred and fifty. Sir 
Roger Newdigate then began the debate, and opposed 
with great vehemence the bringing up of this petition. 
In his opinion it aimed at the destruction of the church, 
whose existence depended upon the continuance of the 
Articles. Sir Roger spoke contemptuously of the num- 
ber and quality of the petitioners, and sustained with 
great fortitude the character of member for Oxford. He 
was followed by Mr. Hans Stanley, who opposed the 
bringing up of the petition, as it tended to disturb the 
peace of the country, which, in his opinion, ought to be 
the subject of a fortieth article, which would be worth 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOFH1LUS LINDSEY. 



41 



all the thirty-nine*. He was succeeded by Mr. Fitz- 
maurice, who is brother to Lord Shelburne, and spoke 
on the same side, throwing out some very indecent re- 
flections on The Confessional and its author, and endea- 
vouring to prove the petitioners to be a parcel of canting 
hypocrites, who, under pretence of reformation, meant 
the ruin of our civil and ecclesiastical government. This 
conduct roused the resentment of Mr. Pitt, who with 
great dignity and good sense observed upon the inde- 
cency of calumniating any persons appearing in the cha- 
racter of petitioners for redress of grievances, more es- 
pecially the persons then applying for relief in a matter 
that highly concerned the purity of religion, the integrity 
of their own minds, and even the morality of the people. 
He stated very well the principles of the Reformation, and 
fairly inferred from them the propriety of the petition. " 

£C The motion for bringing up the petition was also 
supported by Lord George Germaine, Mr. Sawbridge, 
Mr. Thomas Townshend, Lord John Cavendish, Mr. 
Dunning, Sir Henry Hoghton, Mr. Solicitor General 
Wedderburnet, and Sir George Savile. I believe Sir 
George Savile's speech was one of the best that was ever 
delivered in that house. I can give you no idea of its 
excellence, unless by repeating some parts of it when I 
have the pleasure of seeing you. I cannot help saying, 
however, that I never was so affected with, or so sensible 

* Upon this subject see a very curious letter of Mr. Hans Stanley to Mr. 
Lindsey, Appendix, No. IV. 

f The author of this Biographical Memoir is neither inclined nor called 
upon to vindicate Mr. Wedderburne, afterwards Earl of Rosslyn, and Lord 
High Chancellor of Great Britain, in the whole of his political conduct. But 
let it be remembered to Lord Rosslyn's praise, that he wa3 always the en- 
lightened advocate of a liberal toleration ; and that he was the steady zealous 
friend and disinterested patron of the late learned Edward Evanson, A.M. 
Vicar of Tewkesbury, whom he carried triumphantly through a mean and 
savage persecution instituted against him by a few of his parishioners, in 
opposition to the sense of a decided majority of the inhabitants of the town, 
under pretence of heresy, and because of a few verbal alterations or omissions 
in reading the Liturgy. 



42 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II. 



of the power of pious eloquence as while he was speaking. 
It was not only an honour to him, but to his age and 
country^. Mr. Solicitor General spoke very well, and 
gave a very handsome testimony to the character of Mr. 
Biackburne as a learned, pious, virtuous, and venerable 
man, and vindicated his book as an excellent and enter- 
taining performance. The speakers on the opposite side 
were Sir Roger Newdigate, Mr, Fitzmaurice, Lord Folk- 
stone, Mr. Byrne, Lord North, Mr. Charles Fox, Mr. 
Burke, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Jenkinson, Mr. Stanley, Dr. 

* The speeches of Sir William Meredith and of Sir George Savile were 
afterwards written down from memory by Dr. Furneaux, and corrected by 
Sir W. Meredith himself. Of these speeches, so corrected, I am in posses- 
sion of a copy, from which I will trespass upon the indulgence of the reader 
by presenting him with a few extracts of the admirable speech of Sir George 
Savile, which he will easily perceive was well entitled to the high eulogium 
of Mr. Lee. The earnestness and fervour with which it was delivered ma- 
nifested how deeply the honourable speaker was impressed with his subject, 
and the House listened from beginning to end with silent astonishment. 

The honourable speaker, after a few preliminary remarks, in which he 
distinguishes between the Church of England and the Church of God and 
Christ, (with which Sir Roger Newdigate had confounded it,) after having 
stated that adherence to the Scriptures only, in opposition to human inven- 
tions, was the grand principle of Protestantism, and having made some judi- 
cious and pointed observations upon some of the doctrines which are con- 
tained in the Articles., proceeds to vindicate the character of the petitioners, 
and to reply to the objections which had been started in the course of the 
debate. It may be proper to premise that the zealous member for the Uni- 
versity of Oxford had in his speech used words to this effect : " Some per r 
haps may ask what is the use of requiring subscription to the Thirty-nine 
Articles ? All blind as they are, cannot they see that the Articles are bar- 
riers for the protection of the Church ? " It was also fully understood at the 
time that the beautiful allegory, in reply to this allegation, though men- 
tioned as a quotation, was in fact the extemporaneous suggestion 0/ the elo- 
quent orator's own vivid imagination. 

" I must now, sir, express my very great concern at the manner in which 
the petition, and they who signed it, have been treated. They have beerj 
treated in a manner very unparliamentary, in a manner that none should be 
treated who come to the bar of this House to represent grievances and to 
solicit redress. Their characters have been aspersed : injurious suspicions 
have been thrown out against their designs and intentions. I wish many 
things not to have been said which have been said, The petitioners, sir, 
are clergymen ; men of respectable characters ; I verily believe good and con- 
scientious men. We may treat their situation with indifference, because we 
are strangers to it and feel not their difficulty. But let us for a moment put 
ourselves in the place of these petitioners, who are required to bring them- 
selves under a solemn obligation on the one hand to preach according to 
Scripture, (which, if it means any thing, must mean according to what they 
apprehend to be the sense of Scripture,) and on the other, are required to 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 43 

Hay, and Mr. Cooper. Nobody but Sir Roger Newdi- 
gate attempted to defend tbe Articles. And all the 
House explicitly declared it was foolish to require sub- 
scription at the university, and expressed a wish that it 
might be laid aside there. 

" After a very fine debate the house divided; the num- 
bers for not receiving the petition were two hundred and 
seventeen — for receiving it seventy-one, which, consi- 
dering the influence of the bishops and ministry, and the 
character and weight of the minority, was thought a very 

declare their belief of Articles which in their consciences they think contrary 

to the Scripture, and which few will pretend to believe or to understand 

This, sir, is a debate in which the honour of God, the interests of religion 
and virtue, our own consciences, and the consciences of others, are deeply 
concerned. Let us, then, hear no more of private characters, of Confes- 
sionals, and Feathers Tavern. I have always thought that the persom of men 
who petition this House were under our protection. Their characters ought 
to be still more so. I therefore beseech you — I become a humble and ear- 
nest supplicant to you, by the benevolent spirit of the Gospel, by all that is 

■ serious, I beseech you by the bowels of Christ, that this affair be treated, 
not as a matter of policy, not as a matter of levity, not as a matter of censo- 
riousness, but as a matter of religion." 

" Some gentlemen seem to apprehend that we are to make the doors of 
the church as narrow and to exclude as many as possible. I think we should 
make them as wide as we can to take in as many as possible. Others are 
apprehensive that, in case the Scriptures are substituted in the room of the 
Articles, it will be the means of admitting into the church a great number 

• of sectaries. Sectaries ! Sir : had it not been for sectaries, this cause had 
been tried at Rome. Thank God, it is tried here. 

f* Some gentlemen fear that if we lay aside the Articles and place the 
Scriptures in their stead, by throwing down all distinctions we shall admit 
Papists, and together with them their religion too. But they forget that 
Papists are excluded by the oath of supremacy, and by the declaration against 
trans ubstantiation, against the invocation of the Virgin Mary and other saints, 
and against the sacrifice of the mass. And if any other test be needful, let 
them be made to acknowledge liberty of conscience and the right of private 
judgement ; let them abjure persecution — that were a truly Protestant test. 
But can any one seriously think that encouraging free inquiry and the study 
of the Scriptures will issue in the Romish religion r When I see a rivulet flow 
to the top of a high rock, and requiring a strong engine to force it back again, 
then shall I think that freedom of inquiry will be prejudicial to truth — then 
shall I think that liberty of judgement will be prejudicial to the Protestant 
religion — then shall I think that adhering to the Scriptures only will lead to 
Rome. 

" Some gentlemen talk of ' raising barriers about the Church of God, and 
protecting his honour.' Language that is astenishing, that is shocking, that 
almost approaches to blasphemy. What ! Man ! a poor vile contemptible 
reptile, talk of raising barriers about the Church of God ! He might as well 
talk of protecting Omnipotence, and raising barriers about his throne. Bar- 



44 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II. 



great affair. The clergy petitioners were delighted with 
the debate, all of them that were in town being admitted 
to hear it. Dr. Hallifax of Cambridge was in the gallery, 
and seemed disappointed that his violent nonsense had 
produced so little effect on the House. This scene was 
acted yesterday, beginning at three and ending at eleven 
o'clock." 

" The XXXIX Articles," says Mr. Lindsey in a letter 
of nearly the same date to the same friend, " underwent 
such a scrutiny, and had such a just exposition, that the 

riers about the Church of God, Sir? about that church, which, if there 
be any veracity in Scripture, shall continue for ever, and against which the 
gates of hell shall not prevail ? If I may be allowed on so serious an oc- 
casion to recollect a fable, it puts me in mind of one which I have met 
with, of a stately, magnificent, impregnable castle built on a rock, the basis 
of which was the centre of the earth, the top of it pierced the clouds, the 
thickness of the walls could not be measured by cubits. At the bottom of 
it a few moles were one day very busy in raising up a little quantity of earth, 
which when some mice saw, What are you doing, said they, to disturb the 
tranquillity of the lord of this castle ? We are not disturbing his tranquillity, 
replied the moles ; all blind as you are, you may see that we are only throw- 
ing up a rampart to protect his castle. 

"The Church of God, Sir, can protect itself. Truth needs not be afraid 
of not obtaining the victory on a fair trial. The lovers of truth will love all 
sincere inquirers after it, though they may differ from them in various re- 
ligious sentiments. For it is to impartial and free inquiry only that error 
owes its ruin and truth its success. Those who are penetrated with the 
benevolent spirit of the Gospel will not condemn as heretics, will not reject 
as unworthy of their affection, any who believe the Christian religion, who 
search and endeavour to understand the Scriptures, though they may be 
unable to comply with creeds and articles. 

" Some gentlemen suppose that the Scriptures are not plain enough to be 
a rule and centre of union to the Church. They must have articles and 
creeds to supply its defects. But if the things which are necessary to sal- 
vation are not plainly revealed, there is no way of salvation revealed to the 
bulk of mankind at all. Whatever is obscurely revealed will be always 
obscure notwithstanding our decisions. It can never be authoritatively 
determined hymen. The only authority which can explain it, and make 
the explanation a test of faith, is the authority of God. As to what he has 
plainly reveaied, it needs no articles to ascertain its meaning. We should 
not then adopt views and measures which are contracted and narrow. We 
should not set bars in the way of those who are willing to enter and labour 
in the Church of God. When the disciples came to Christ and complained 
that there were some who cast out devils in his name, and said, We forbad 
them because they followed not us — what did our Saviour do ? Did he send 
them tests and articles to be subscribed? Did he ask them whether they 
believed this, or that, or the other doctrine ? whether they were Athanasians, 
or Arians, or Arminians ? No. He delivered that comprehensive maxim 
— He that is not against me is for me, Go ye, and say likewise." 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



45 



civil power must soon be ashamed of imposing" what not 
one of our adversaries defended, except Sir Roger ; and 
many of them gave them up. 

et Burke declaimed most violently against us in a long 
speech, but entirely like a Jesuit, and full of popish 
ideas ; the multifarious strange compound of the book 
called the Scriptures ; the uncertainty what were the 
Scriptures ; the necessity of a priesthood ; of men in 
society, religious as well as other, giving up their right 
of private judgement, &c. &c. 

t( Can it be true ?" continued Mr. Lindsey, " I hope 
not ; but it is said, and suspected, that this man spoke 
the sentiments of his patron, Lord Rockingham. The 
persuasion, however, does my .Lord Marquis no good in 
the esteem of judicious men. 

" Though defeated," adds he, " we sing a victory ; as 
truth and reason were all for us, and overpowered only 
by power ; and we are not disheartened, but in high 
spirits, with thankfulness to the good providence of God 
so happily disposing things ; and shall certainly not give 
up the cause, though what steps next are to be taken we 
cannot say." 

So little interest did the Dissenters take in this appli- 
cation of the clergy, that only two of the General Body 
of dissenting ministers happened to be present at this 
memorable debate. These were, indeed, gentlemen of the 
first eminence and respectability among their brethren : 
the late reverend Edward Pickard # , minister of the con- 



* Let it be permitted to one who, after an interval of more than thirty- 
years, entertains a grateful and unabated sense of many and important obli- 
gations, to bear a humble testimony to the distinguished, but retiring and 
unobtrusive merit of the friend of his youth. The reverend Edward Pickard 
was born at Alcester, in Warwickshire, A.D. 1714, of reputable and pious 
parents. He was educated ia high Calvinistic principles, and after he had 
finished his studies under the reverend and learned J. Eames, F.R.S. be 
settled with a congregation at Stratford upon Avon. The excellence of his 
understanding and the benevolence of his heart, combined with a serious and 



46 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[OH. II. 



gregation at Carter Lane, a gentleman distinguished by 
benevolence of heart and urbanity of manners, who was 
afterwards Chairman of the Committee for conducting 
the application of the Dissenting Ministers to Parliament 
for relief; and the learned Philip Furneaux, D.D. mi- 
nister of the congregation at Clapham, well known to 
the public by his Letters to Mr. Justice Blackstone upon 
the subject of Toleration, and whose memory was so cor- 
rect and tenacious, that having taken down from recol- 
lection the celebrated speech of Lord Mansfield in the 
House of Peers, in the great dissenting cause, concerning 

diligent study of the Scriptures, soon led him to discard the gloomy system 
in which he had been brought up, and to embrace the more rational hypo- 
thesis of Arianism, which was then in the zenith of its glory, being supported 
by the great abilities, learning and reputation of Dr. Clarke, Mr. Whiston, 
Dr. Daniel Scott, and others. To this opinion Mr. Pickard ever afterwards 
adhered. His deviation from the orthodox creed having created uneasiness 
in his situation at Stratford, he removed to London, and was at first settled 
with a small congregation in the Borough. But his eminent talents were 
not destined to remain long in obscurity. And in 1746, upon the accession 
of Mr. Newman to the pastoral office in the flourishing congregation at Carter 
Lane in the room of Dr. Wright, Mr. Pickard was chosen afternoon preacher ; 
and, upon the death of Mr. Newman, A.D. 175.9, he was appointed sole pas- 
tor, and continued in that connexion happy, useful, and beloved, beyond the 
common lot, till his own decease in Febiuary 1778. Mr. Pickard had great 
pulpit talents. He was, indeed, no professed orator ; and perhaps he enter- 
tained too great a prejudice against the artificial helps of public elocution. 
But his voice was clear and strong : his matter was judicious, well com- 
posed, interesting, and practical. He spoke as one who deeply felt the 
power of religious truth. In prayer, he chiefly excelled. In variety of 
thought, in copiousness of language, in simplicity, in propriety and perti- 
nence to the occasion, in pathos, and in fervour of devotion, he was un- 
equalled. No one could hesitate in preferring free prayer to written or pub- 
lic forms, if all could pray like Mr. Pickard. He riveted the attention and 
captivated the heart. And it was the same in the more private and family 
circle as in public. His public services did not indeed attract the crowd, 
hut they delighted the intelligent, the judicious, and the devout 5 and have 
been honoured more than once by the attendance of dignitaries of the highest 
order in the established church. 

Mr. Pickard possessed talents which qualified him eminently for conduct- 
ing business. What he planned with calm and cool deliberation and advice, 
he executed with promptitude, with vigour, and with perseverance. And his 
kindness of heart and conciliatory manners made it a pleasure to every one 
to transact business with him. He was a leading, and active member in 
many important trusts. He was chairman of the committee for that ap- 
plication to parliament which originated with him, for the relief of protestant 
dissenting ministers, tutors, and schoolmasters ; and in this office he con- 
ducted himself with a degree of prudence and activity which commanded uni- 



CH. TI.J REVEREMD THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 4/ 

the liability of dissenters to serve the office of sheriff, and 
having shown it to the noble and learned Lord for his 
correction, it was returned by Lord Mansfield with very 
few alterations, and with his express consent to publish 
it as his genuine speech : which Dr. Furneaux has ac- 
cordingly done, in the Appendix to the second edition 
of his Letters to the learned Judge. In the course of the 
debate, many of the speakers who opposed the petition 
of the clergy, and particularly Lord North, who having 
with his usual good humour observed, that he saw no 
ground to complain of intolerance in times when every 

versal approbation. His conduct in this affair was, indeed, severely, not to 
say rudely attacked, in an anonymous pamphlet, by an author who did not 
at that time fully appreciate his worth. But at the next general meeting of 
the three denominations, which was most numerously attended, Mr. Pickard, 
as chairman, delivered a most excellent speech, which he was strongly so- 
licited to publish, stating and defending his own conduct and that of his 
brethren of the committee, and repelling the attack which had been made 
upon him and them, with a spirit, truth, and energy, which gave complete 
satisfaction to the audience, and even to the accuser himself who was pre- 
sent, and who was ready frankly to acknowledge that he had not formed a just 
estimate of Mr. Pickard s character and talents f . 

In the American war, and in the party politics of the time, Mr. Pickard 
took a side opposite to that of Dr. Price and most of his dissenting brethren. 
This he did honestly and conscientiously, and without any improper or in- 
terested bias of mind. He was a man of a truly independent spirit, and dis- 
dained to be the tool of a party. And when the minister of the crown, know- 
ing his character, his political principles, and his weight among the dissent- 
ers, offered him the whole management of the regium donum, he absolutely 
declined having any concern in it at all, that he might not give the shadow 
of pretence for the allegation that he was warped in his political principles 
by court favour. 

Mr. Pickard died after a short illness, in February 1 778, in the sixty-seventh 
year of his age. And very few in a similar situation have been more justly, 
more generally, or more deeply lamented. It is much to be regretted that 
his great humility and modesty, together with his numerous avocations, did 
not permit him to instruct and edify the Christian world from the press, as 
well as from the pulpit. But he has left one splendid and lasting monument 
of his philanthropy and piety, the Dissenters' Orphan School in the City 
Road ; of which noble and useful institution, I believe that I am correct in 
saying, that the idea originated with him 3 at least, it will be allowed that 
he was one of its first founders, and of its most able, most unwearied; and 
most successful managers and advocates. 

t The anonymous assailant was Dr. Priestley, who has, to the author 
himself, acknowledged his error with respect to the qualifications and merits 
of Mr. Pickard ; and the gentleman who requested that the speech might 
be published, was Mr. Turner, of Wakefield. 



48 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II. 



one was permitted to go to heaven in their own way, re- 
marked, that had a similar application been made by the 
dissenting clergy, who derived no emoluments from the 
church whose articles they were compelled to subscribe, 
he could see no reasonable objection to it. These two 
reverend gentlemen, talking the matter over with each 
other after the debate was closed, and consulting with 
some others of their brethren, summoned the General 
Body of dissenting ministers of the three denominations, 
who concurred in an application to parliament the next 
year, for relief from the obligation to subscribe the arti- 
cles of the established church, in order to secure the be- 
nefits of the Toleration Act. And though they were for 
a time vehemently opposed by bigots both of their own 
body and of the establishment, and though the bill for 
their relief, having twice passed the House of Commons, 
was twice rejected by the Lords ; yet a few years after- 
wards, A. D. 1778, the times becoming more favourable, 
the bill for their relief passed both Houses almost una- 
nimously, and received the royal assent. So that at pre- 
sent dissenting ministers, tutors, and schoolmasters, are 
entitled to all the benefits of the Toleration Act, by 
making a declaration, in addition to the oaths usually 
required, that they receive the Scriptures of the Old and 
New Testament as containing a divine revelation. 

The associated clergy having resolved, notwithstand- 
ing their late defeat, to renew their application for re- 
lief the next session of parliament, Mr. Lindsey, though 
his hopes of success were less than ever, did not deem it 
expedient at this juncture to carry into effect his resolu- 
tion of resignation. This, however, he plainly foresaw 
must soon happen ; and in the mean time he fortified 
his mind by reading Calamy's Account of the Ministers 
who were ejected for Non-conformity in the year 1662, 
and by collecting materials for a history of persons who 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



49 



had suffered for their profession of Unitarian principles. 
Upon the former subject he thus expresses himself, in a 
letter to a friend, dated April 12, 1772 : 

"I never was more affected with any book than with 
Calamy's History of those worthy confessors that gave 
up all in the cause of Christ, and for a good conscience, 
at the Restoration. No time or country ever did furnish 
at once such a list of Christian heroes ; and I fear our 
own country now would fall far short of furnishing so 
large a number upon a like trying occasion. But it was 
the effect of their Puritan education. They had learned to 
fear God from their youth, and to fear nothing else." 

He further adds to the same correspondent, in refe- 
rence to the plan which he was himself pursuing, of col- 
lecting materials for a similar history, 

" As it was your own obliging offer, I need not ask 
you, as it falls in your way, to inquire out, and to note 
down for me, any such good witnesses of our own days. 
And I will endeavour that their names and example may 
not be wholly lost." 

In another letter, dated May 10, 1772, he observes, 
" If I did not sufficiently in my last, I ought to acknow- 
ledge myself highly indebted to you for the pains you 
have taken, and are taking, in the inquiry first started to 
me by you, though thought of by me, and to which you 
so willingly lend your aid. Their names have gone up 
for a memorial before God, who have suffered for the 
testimony of Jesus, and nobly refused to worship the 
beast and his image. But surely their memory should 
live, and be preserved upon earth for the benefit of the 
present and succeeding times. But such materials are 
slowly collected, and hardly to be come at by us of the 
church ; and, to our shame be it said, fall more in your 
way. Therefore I will beg you, at your utmost leisure, 
to go on as you have begun." 

E 



SO MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. II<r 

Mr. Lindsey, though his own mind was fully made up 
as to the step which he would take if the application of 
the Associated Clergy did not succeed, was very cautious 
of dropping any hint of his intention, even to his most 
intimate friends, till the time approached when it would 
be necessary for him to take public and decisive mea- 
sures. The first allusion which he makes to his own 
secret purpose, in his correspondence with Mr. Turner, 
is in a letter dated June 2, 1772. 

" What will further be attempted in our affair," says 
he, " I know not ; but I trust we shall agree still to do 
something. — For my oivn particular, if no disposition 
to reformation appear, and nothing be done, I do not 
know where things will end." 

The associated clergy judging it expedient not to re- 
new their application to parliament at the ensuing sessions 
in the spring of 1773, Mr. Lindsey, who never expected 
any reformation to be introduced which would relieve 
his scruples with respect to conformity, conceiving that 
he had now protracted his resignation to the utmost limit 
that the most cautious prudence could require, and having 
now an open course before him, determined forthwith to 
relinquish his preferment at the close of the current year. 
And in the mean time he employed himself in prepara- 
tion for this, to him, very important event — not, indeed, 
by hoarding up a purse of money for the support of him- 
self and Mrs. Lindsey while he continued out of office, 
and unprovided with the means of subsistence : for this 
was not his chief concern. True to the last to the ge- 
nerous principle, that the income arising from a parish 
should be employed for the benefit of the parishioners, 
both he and Mrs. Lindsey, as we are informed by his 
amiable biographer, who was eye-witness to the fact, 
continued their accustomed charities, and had this year 
the additional expense of inoculating all the poor chil- 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



51 



dren in the parish, the small-pox being then very fatal 
in the neighbourhood. Mrs. Lindsey attended them in 
person, gave them all their medicines, and was so suc- 
cessful in her attendance, that she did not lose a single 
patient*. Mr. Lindsey, in the mean time, employed 
himself in drawing up and printing a copious and learned 
Apology to the public, which, in its original state, con- 
tained a large and comprehensive view of the arguments 
for the Unitarian doctrine. But upon reconsideration, 
and by the advice of his friends, he considerably reduced 
the size of the volume, comprising what was most ma- 
terial, and what related to himself personally, in a smaller 
work, which was to be ready for publication immediately 
upon his resignation ; and judiciously reserving the more 
elaborate portion of the argument to be published after- 
wards, at a more convenient season, as a Sequel to the 
Apology. In the mean time, as opportunity offered, he 
communicated his purpose without reserve to his confi- 
dential friends. 

In the beginning of the year 1 773, some letters in a 
newspaper appeared under the signature Lselius, which 
discussed the question concerning the conformity of cler- 
gymen who, in their judgement and conscience, disap- 
proved of the doctrine and worship of the established 
church. Upon this subject Mr. Lindsey thus feelingly 
expresses himself, in a letter to a friend dated March 2 : 
" The subject of Lselius's last letter may give one many 
a pang. I cannot say that I have been, for many years, 
a day free from uneasiness about it -}"." 

The interesting posture of his mind, as the crisis ap- 
proached, he thus pathetically describes to his friend Mr. 
Turner, who seems to have been almost the only person 
admitted to his entire confidence. The letter is dated 

* Mrs. Cappe's Memoir of Mr. Lindsey, Month. Rep. vol. iii. p. 641. 
t Monthly Mag. December 1803, p. 448. 

E 2 



52 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. tl* 

June 33, \773. " It is not possible to describe to you 
the straits and anxieties of mind which one person daily 
passeth through — not through any doubts of the thing 
itself, but lest he should have deserved to be laid by, iest 
there should be any thing to reproach himself with here- 
after, lest he should suffer unprontably as to himself; for 
a man may give all his goods to the poor, and his body 
to be burned, and yet want charity ; may make the 
greatest sacrifices, and yet want the proper disposition 
to make them acceptable. What need has one daily to 
cry with the psalmist, ' Make me a clean heart, O God, 
and renew a right spirit within me !' You will hence ob- 
serve, it was not lightly that the last word said at K. at 
parting, was c Ora, Orate pro nobis and you gave me 
comfort in the assurance of this your way of remem- 
brance. And I would beg another person not to be for- 
gotten, who has indeed the true spirit of a Christian, 
and has been more than ready to do every thing ; but 
who must be exposed to one knows not what, and there 
must be a great change from what is at present. These 
things are hinted darkly to you, for which there is a rea- 
son. But there is a relief in it, and the more, as it is 
to no one else whatsoever, now Dr. P. is gone." 

To the same friend, the same time, he sent his 
Apology and its Appendix, now finished and ready for 
the press, requesting at the same time his free and im- 
partial strictures. " You will find it run out," says he, 
f* longer than you would think. But one thing drew on 
another. And it seemed to me necessary to complete 
my plan. I will not be ashamed to own to you, that it 
has cost me some pains. And some things seem to be 
set in a stronger light than I have seen them ; and some 
I had not seen observed before. When I have borrowed, 
I have fairly owned it. You know what severity of 
judgement, perhaps unkind, it is to pass through; and 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LTNDSEY. 53 

therefore I beg you will be severe before hand, and also 
suggest any improvements which may occur to you." 
And in his next letter, dated June 21, he says, " I beg 
you will particularly mark any expression or sentiment 
that savoureth of pride or obstinacy, or contempt of 
others' opinions, or that is deficient in a proper and 
humble sense of myself." So solicitous was this excellent 
man that he might be influenced by none but the purest 
and most disinterested motives in all he did, or suffered, 
or wrote, through the whole of this arduous concern. 

At the latter end of July Mr. Lindsey was invited to 
preach the Assize Sermon at York ; of which oppor- 
tunity he availed himself to bear his testimony to the 
cause of the petitioning clergy. This discourse gave 
great satisfaction to a liberal and enlightened audience, 
and the preacher was much solicited to print it. But 
as the bulk of it had been composed only for his country 
parishioners, to which a few additions had been made 
for the purpose of adapting it to the occasion, Mr. 
Lindsey did not think it worthy the public eye. Had 
it occurred, to him that he might possibly be requested 
to publish, he would have been better prepared. And 
he expresses his regret to his friend, that <c an oppor- 
tunity of bearing a more public and useful testimony 
had been lost by him," 

Soon after his return from York he made a visit to 
Alnwick Castle, ^ the noble owners of it having invited 
him in such a way, that in this juncture he thought it 
wrong to decline it, however inconvenient." He re- 
garded it as proper upon this occasion to drop a hint to 
his illustrious friends of the important measure which 
he had in contemplation, not without some faint hope 
that, in some shape or other, some little effort might 
have been made to serve him, some temporary relief 
might have been offered. Happily, no such idea entered 



54 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II. 



into the minds of the noble inhabitants of that princely 
mansion. On the contrary, t£ his words seemed to them 
as idle tales." Nor did it fall within the comprehension 
of persons of their high rank and dignity, that it was 
possible for a person of Mr. Lindsey's good understand- 
ing, for the sake of a few trifling scruples, to quit a si- 
tuation of respectability and affluence, and expose him- 
self and the person in the world who was the dearest to 
him to all the miseries of poverty and dependence. The 
disappointment of his expectations from the Duke and 
Dutchess of Northumberland does not appear to have 
given Mr. Lindsey one moment's uneasiness. Before 
he set out for Alnwick he had written to his friend, " If 
God be with us and go along with us in all we do, and 
wherever we go, we shall prosper. I trust, I desire to 
do his will more ardently than ever." And after his re- 
turn, August 10, he briefly states : 6 s My late journey 
was undertaken in view of my approaching affair, and to 
try something towards procuring a viaticum for the pil- 
grims. But I cannot say it has answered. Nobody will 
believe any one can be in earnest to take such a step^." 

Mr. Lindsey was no fanatic who fancied merit in vo- 
luntary poverty. He had enjoyed and had duly valued 



* This disappointment was not owing to any personal dislike, or to any 
indifference in his noble patrons to the concerns of their venerable friend. 
On the contrary, they took a very lively interest in his future fortunes. And 
after he came to reside in London, on the very day in which he opened the 
chapel in Essex-street, when there was some apprehension that Mr. Lindsey 
might incur personal danger, the Dutchess herself called at his humble 
apartments, after the morning service, to inquire after the safety of the re- 
vered confessor. But these illustrious persons, having offered him the 
highest preferment which it was in their power to confer, when Mr. Lindsey 
resigned his connexion with the established church, probably considered him 
as having placed himself without the sphere of their patronage. Nor did it 
occur to them, nor would Mr. Lindsey's delicacy permit him to insinuate 
the most distant hint, to what a state of depression and dependence he had 
reduced himself by his magnanimous conduct. Afterwards, when his situa- 
tion came to be better understood, a liberal present was made to his vene- 
rated preceptor by the late illustrious possessor of the title, which was con- 
tinued annually till Mr. Lindsey's decease. 



CH. It.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



55 



and improved the blessings of affluence. Nor could any- 
thing but an imperious sense of duty have induced him 
to forego them. He is not, therefore, to be blamed for 
using any prudent and honourable means of saving him- 
self and Mrs. Lindsey from falling at once into an abyss 
of poverty, in which they would be left to struggle with 
difficulties unaccustomed and unknown. It could be no 
offence to say, " Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass 
away from me ;" provided that it was added, as in this 
case it certainly was, with the most entire resignation of 
spirit: "nevertheless, not our will but thine be done." 
And it was the wise and merciful design of Providence 
that this venerable confessor's faith and principle should 
be tried to the utmost. Nor indeed would it have been 
possible for Mr. Lindsey's character to have appeared with 
equal brilliancy and effect, nor could the purity of his own 
motives have been, so evident, even to himself, if immedi- 
ately upon his resignation of the vicarage of Catterick he 
had found a safe and splendid asylum in Northumberland 
House. It was therefore expedient for him, and for the 
cause which he had at heart, that he should be taught not 
only to be ready, but actually to suffer the loss of all 
things for the sake of truth and of a good conscience. 

The disappointment at Alnwick Castle produced a very 
slight and momentary impression. A far severer conflict 
awaited Mr. Lindsey when he came to reveal his purpose 
to Mrs. Lindsey's relations, to Archdeacon Blackburne, 
her stepfather, who loved her as his own daughter, who 
from principle utterly disapproved the measure of leaving 
the church, and who could express his disapprobation 
with a strength and energy of language, which, though 
it could not shake Mr. Lindsey's purpose, might greatly 
agitate his feelings ; and to Mrs. Blackburne, who, if she 
did not disapprove the principle of Mr. Lindsey's con- 
duct, would feel most bitterly the inevitable consequence 



56 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. II, 



— that of tearing from her arms a beloved daughter who 
was the chief solace and support of her advancing years. 
This disclosure, so much dreaded, was indeed deferred 
by Mr. Lindsey perhaps beyond the time which strict pro- 
priety would justify, of which his friend at Wakefield ap- 
pears to have given him a gentle hint. In reply to which, 
upon his return from Alnwick, he writes, " In my next 
I shall perhaps be able to tell you how the notification is 
received by one to whom you wished it to be made." 
This communication was made in the month of Septem- 
ber ; and the result of it, and the impression it made 
upon his mind, he thus concisely but feelingly describes 
in a letter dated September 17. 

"What 1 said to you then (alluding to his last letter) 
I can ill recollect ; for I had been then,, and was some 
time after, under such agitations of mind in disclosing 
a certain important matter to some friends, that I was 
hardly master of myself to do any thing properly. Some- 
thing of this kind I could not avoid even at York. But, 
all such trials are now over. Affliction, great, you will 
readily believe on the side of a loving mother and justly 
beloved daughter, on the prospect of so sudden a remo- 
val to such a distance ! But it gives place to better sen- 
timents, and trust in Providence. I cannot say the matter 
is so kindly taken by others. But such things are to be 
expected ; and they may be of service to prepare for cold- 
ness, neglect, misrepresentation, and unkindness from 
the world, and to lead to depend only on him who never 
faileth those who in well doing put their trust in him." 

It was about the same time that he communicated his 
intention and his motives in a letter to another respect- 
able correspondent*. 



* See the Memoir in the Monthly Magazine, ibid. p. 448. This corre- 
spondent was the celebrated Dr. John J ebb, so well known and so honour- 
ably distinguished by the learned and instructive Critical and Theological 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 57 

"I think/' says he, "you must have perceived in my 
letters, perhaps in my conversation, a dissatisfiedness 
with our ecclesiastical impositions, and a tendency to re- 
lieve myself from them. This indeed had taken place 
long before our association was formed, and the execu- 
tion only suspended and retarded by it, though some 
pleasing expectation was formed, that Providence might 
unexpectedly give such a turn to our endeavours as might 
make me easy, or give me liberty to make myself easy. 
But as my chief dissatisfaction is with those Trinitarian 
forms which pervade the whole liturgy, all hope of that 
"kind is entirely cut off. The resolution I have formed 
of retiring has been absolutely fixed for some time, and 
will take place in a few months. It was absolutely ne- 
cessary for my own peace with God, which is to be pre- 
ferred above all considerations. But I have found great 
difficulties and opposition already, and expect to find 

Lectures which he delivered at Cambridge ; by his zealous, active, and in 
part successful exertions to improve the system of education in the univer- 
sity, and to excite a laudable spirit of emulation among the students by fre- 
quent examinations and honorary premiums ; and to abolish or to mitigate 
the yoke of subscription to the thirty-nine articles. This gentleman, how- 
ever, finding his efforts for reformation in a great measure fruitless, resigned 
his preferment in the church, and afterwards took his degree in medicine, 
and entered upon practice in the metropolis with great reputation and suc- 
cess ; but he died a few years afterwards, in the meridian of life, at the age 
of fifty-three. — See Dr. Disney's interesting Memoir of Dr. Jebb, prefixed 
to the collection of his works. Dr. Jebb did net actually quit his situation in 
the church till some time after the resignation of his friend Mr. Lindsey. 
But it is remarkable that the letters of the two friends, communicating to 
each other their respective resolutions to that effect, crossed upon the road. 
Dr. Jebb, as he was the active and energetic coadjutor of Mr. Lindsey in the 
business of the clerical association, so he was, with Mr. Turner, his confi- 
dential friend and adviser in all his subsequent proceedings and difficulties, 
particularly concerning the opening of the chapel in Essex-street, and the 
alterations in the Liturgy. Mr. Lindsey also submitted his various publica- 
tions to the revisal of Dr. Jebb/ and derived much benefit from his critical 
remarks upon difficult and disputed texts. It was the earnest desire of Mr. 
Lindsey that his pious and learned friend should have been associated with 
him as his colleague in Essex-street. But this Dr. Jebb decline ; ; though 
afterwards, when he wa3 settled in London, he was a constant worshiper in 
Mr. Lindsey s chapel, and a most zealous and decided advocate for Unitarian 
principles, and supporter of the sole worship and unrivalled supremacy of 
the One God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



|_CH. II, 



more. My greatest comfort and support, under God, is 
my wife, who is a Christian indeed, and worthy of a bet- 
ter fate in worldly things than we have a prospect of; 
for we leave a station of ease and abundance attended 
with many other agreeable circumstances. But, thanks 
be to God, we have not given way to ease and indulgence, 
and can be content with little." 

In the month of October Mr. Lindsey writes to his 
friend, <s that their courage and trust in God did not re- 
lax, though difficulties and discouragements increased ; 
and that, if these produced the effect of bringing them 
nearer to God, and to more entire reliance upon him, 
whatever might befall them they would have reason to 
be thankful." 

On the twelfth of November Mr. Lindsey wrote to his 
diocesan Dr. Markham, then bishop of Chester, after- 
wards archbishop of York, to inform him of his intention 
to resign his vicarage ; and that in a few days he should 
wait upon his Lordship with the legal instrument of his 
resignation. On the same day he wrote a long letter to 
Dr. Jebb, in which he says, " I have never had the least 
doubt, from the first moment. I resolved on the step I am 
now about to take, but that it was right, and my duty. I 
have had some subsequent hope too, that it might serve 
our cause, and the cause of God's truth. I bless the God 
of heaven for myself, and my wife, who is destined to bear 
a great part of the burden, that as difficulties increase, 
(and they must increase the nearer the time approaches,) 
our resolution and courage increase. And I have no 
doubt but the promises made to the faithful servants will 
be fulfilled to us ; that we shall have strength propor- 
tioned to our trial and want of it^." 



* In another letter- to the same friend, dated December 5, 1773, Mr. 
Lindsey writes, "I have always had great satisfaction and information in 
your letters, and in your later ones much comfort and encouragement. If I 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



59 



On the same day he wrote a letter to his friend Mr. 
Turner, who had proposed to recommend him to a con- 
gregation of liberal dissenters at the Octagon Chapel, 
Liverpool, which was then in want of a minister. In 
this letter he expresses his deep sense of his friend's kind- 
ness, and his own further views and purposes, in the fol- 
lowing terms : 

" I must ever say that I have had no such consolation 
from any one as from you, during the conflict and trial 
which the providence of God has cast upon me. You 
have ever been leading to the right point of view, in 
which to consider it, and suggesting the most animating 
motives for encouragement under it. And not satisfied 
with doing this, your last convinces me of your earnest 
desire to contribute your endeavours to procure me an 
establishment when I quit this, which may preserve some 
degree of usefulness which I anxiously wish, and serve 
for that worldly support which we shall want. But with 
regard to what you kindly suggest, I believe it will be 
best to wait, and not lay out for any thing of this kind 
at present, though no less obliged to you than if you pro- 
cured me success in it. My reason is, that my design, 
which I specify very particularly in my Tract, is to try to 
gather a church of Unitarian Christians out of the esta- 
blished church. My hope is, that it may please Provi- 

had been opposed and condemned by all my friends, by ail the world, in what 
I have been long meditating and have now accomplished, I must have done 
it. The track of duty was so plain and straight, I must have been abandoned 
to every moral principle not to have gone in it. I have no doubt I shall have 
increasing joy in what I have done, to the latest day of my life. And I feel 
myself delivered from a load which has long lain heavy upon me, and at 
times nearly overwhelmed me. I shall be still more happy if what 1 thought 
myself called upon to speak to the public in my own behalf, but more in the 
cause of oppressed truth, may but serve its interests. The bishop of Ches- 
ter, my diocesan, has behaved with great friendliness, and kindly wished and 
sought to have prevented my taking such a step. And the same has been 
endeavoured by other great friends lately, and various expedients proposed. 
But I now only wonder I did not sooner make my retreat ; and I am per- 
suaded that will be the general cry of many when they see my book." 



GO 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



Fch. II, 



dence to excite some Philadelphians in our church to 
favour such a design. And when I go to town, which 
will be in the beginning of the winter, I shall do all I can 
to forward it; with hope, I said before, not very sanguine 
however, for serious religion is not the tone and temper 
of the times. But attempts must be made in such mat- 
ters oftentimes when there are even greater improbabili- 
ties of accomplishing them. I could wish, and I think 
it my duty, to be instrumental in bringing those who are 
now in the darkness in which I was bred up, to the ac- 
knowledgement and worship of the One true God, through 
the mediation and according to the true doctrine of our 
Saviour Christ, rather than attach myself to those who 
are already emancipated from that darkness. And we are 
willing to expend what little we have for that end for a 
year or two in town, and make the trial. Should it fail, 
I should be glad to be useful in any congregation where 
the worship of the true God is allowed and professed. 
As to future provision, though gloomy thoughts for a mo- 
ment have sometimes come across the mind, we have no 
doubt but our own industry and the friends that Provi- 
dence will raise will furnish every thing needful for it. 

" On Sunday last I took my leave of two of the chapels 
in my parish that lie at a good distance off, near the moors, 
a poor simple-minded people, who much affected me by 
the concern they showed and expressed in words at my 
telling them that I should never more speak to them from 
that place ; and all desired to have the little Tract which 
I mentioned I should distribute amongst them, and which 
would give them an account of the reasons why I left 
them*." 



* This excellent and affecting little Tract, from which large extracts have 
been made in the preceding part of this Memoir, was originally intended for 
private circulation only among Mr. Lindsey's parishioners, but by the desire 
of many judicious friends it was afterwards published, Mr, Turner, in a 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 61 

f< With such deliberate and cheerful resolution," says 
his worthy correspondent in a letter to a friend dated a 
few days afterwards, "does this confessor to what he con- 
ceives to be the truth of the gospel resign a certain esta- 
blishment for dependence and poverty. The glorious 

Jetter to a friend (Mr. Astiey of Chesterfield) to whom he sent a copy of this 
Farewell Address, says, " I think you will be pleased with the simplicity of 
the composition, as well as with the integrity and goodness of heart mani- 
fested in it. In short, it bears the very spirit and character of the man." Of 
the effect produced by it in the district where it was first circulated Mr. Lind- 
sey thus expresses himself in a letter to Dr. Jebb, dated December 5, 1773: 
tf I may not omit to mention, though I ought not perhaps to do it, but you 
"will be glad to know that my resignation has excited a spirit of serious in- 
quiry not only in this parish but in this neighbourhood to a pretty wide ex- 
tent. The little sheet I gave away is much sought for, and all seem to think 
it a sore thing that we should not be ruled by the Bible alone, and that their 
ministers should be put on praying to any but the true God whom the holy 
prophets prayed to, and our Saviour Christ not only prayed to himself, but 
ordered us to pray to the Heavenly Father and no other." He adds : "To 
my great surprise I have found, at this trial of them, all my large parish, even 
the honest and serious day labourers, not only petitioners, but Unitarians." 
It may perhaps be doubted whether this excellent man was not somewhat too 
sanguine in the credit he gave to the effect produced by his doctrine and ex- 
ample upon the mass of his parishioners. At any rate, it is to be feared that 
the valuable impression is now almost if not altogether effaced. The good 
seed fell by the way side and the fowls of the air devoured it, or among thorns 
which grew up and choked it, or on stony ground where it soon withered. 
Haply some may have fallen on good ground, where in the shade of obscurity, 
unknown and unnoticed by the world, but not unobserved by that eye to which 
all things are open, it may still diffuse a refreshing fragrance and bring forth 
abundant fruit. 

How much the parishioners were affected by their separation from their 
beloved and venerated pastor, may be learned from the following testimony 
of one who was present at his valedictory discourse. " Indeed," says the 
writer, " I think no one could hear that sermon without being struck and 
affected. The whole congregation was dissolved in tears ; even children 
caught the infection ; and the old men crowded about the church door when 
the preacher passed along, as if the peace of their few remaining days de- 
pended on a farewell benediction." " His life," says one of his near neigh- 
bours, a man of sense and education, in reply to some foolish and anonymous 
calumnies in the York Chronicle, " and conversation have been uniform and 
consistent, without spot or blemish, and his active and devout disposition of 
mind has rendered him no less eminently great than useful. Those who 
knew him best admired him most. He did not, like too many of his profes- 
sion, merely preach, but he practised virtue. His example was as worthy 
imitation as his precepts. Most assiduous and attentive in every department 
of his holy function, he was an ornament to the church, and the most rare ex- 
ample of disinterested integrity which this age or perhaps this country has 
produced. Far unlike our modern churchmen, whose views are all directed 
on preferments, the kingdom that he sought was not of this world. He 
yearly expended in acts of noble benevolence the whole revenue of hia ricaj> 



62 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH, II. 



triumvirate, Robertson, Chambers*, and Lindsey, do ho- 
nour to Christianity and the present age. You will be 
surprised and grieved at the following particulars which 
Mr. — of ■ lately gave me in a letter. Archdea- 

age, which he reluctantly resigned because he could not reconcile himself 
to the glaring inconsistencies of a liturgy to which, while he continued in the 
church, he found himself obliged to conform." — See a letter in the York 
Chronicle for February 1774, signed A Layman, written by Mr. Metcalfe, no- 
tary public, of Richmond, who received Mr. Lindsey's resignation. In a let- 
ter to a friend at York, dated December 3, 1 773, Mr. Lindsey with his usual 
humility and kindness of heart expresses himself thus : " Great are their la- 
mentations at our leaving them, far more than we expected. But I attribute 
it chiefly to the great loss they will have in my wife, who will not soon be re- 
placed." 

* William Chambers, D.D. Rector of A church near Oundle in North- 
amptonshire, formerly of St. John's College in the university of Cambridge, 
where Mr. Lindsey commenced a friendship with him which continued un- 
abated through life. Dr. C. is described by his friend as having a mind 
above all sordid love of gain, who knew no other use of his fortune than to 
make others happy. He was remarkable for a constant cheerfulness and 
innocent pleasantry which much enlivened conversation. His mind was al- 
ways open to conviction ; he had a thirst after all useful knowledge, and 
spared no pains nor cost to attain it. Yet still he was most concerned about 
what related to God, how best to serve and make him known. He was 
deeply impressed with a sense of the truth and importance of the doctrine 
of the divine Unity; and was zealous to diffuse and impart his light and 
knowledge to others. He had long determined never to renew bis sub- 
scription to the articles, and upon this ground had declined considerable 
preferment in London, which had been offered him by a noble Earl his re- 
lation. He did not, however, think it necessary to follow his venerable 
friend's example of resigning his living; but he altered the liturgy in accom- 
modation to his own views of scriptural worship, and he made it so perfectly 
Unitarian that Mr. Lindsey professes that the only time that he visited his 
friend after his own settlement in London, he attended public worship in his 
church with great satisfaction. If these innovations had been officially no- 
ticed, Dr. Chambers was fully prepared to have given up his living rather 
than have violated his conscience. But such were the popularity of his cha- 
racter and the moderation of his worthy diocesan Dr. Hinchcliffe, that he met 
with no molestation. This excellent man died of an apoplexy September 4, 
1777- He left a widow who survived him upwards of thirty years, and 
three children, two sons and a daughter, who inherit his virtues. Dr. Cham- 
bers had a near relation who was a merchant in London, who had a country 
house at Morden in Surry, where he lived with two unmarried sisters, ladies 
possessed of uncommon intellectual attainments, and whose characters were 
most exemplary. In this family Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey were accustomed to 
pass the greater part of the summer; and to these ladies Mr. Lindsey de- 
dicated his last work, Conversations upon the Divine Government, " in gra- 
titude," as he expresses it, " for unwearied offices of the most disinterested 
friendship for near thirty years to himself and Mrs. Lindsey, and in testimony 
for their enlightened zeal for the worship of the one true God, and a constant 
unostentatious readiness to do good." See Mr. Lindsey' s Historical View, 
p. 486. 



CH. II.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. G3 

con Blackburne thinks Mr. Lindsey wrong ; that his re- 
signation will not benefit the common cause ; that he 
should have made it sooner ; that the public has nothing 
to do with his reasons and apologies ; and says, that when 
he has quitted Catterick he and his wife will have no more 
than twenty pounds a-year, and the interest of a very 
small sum of monev." 

This is a noble testimony from the best authority to 
the disinterestedness of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey, and to 
the difficulties which they had to struggle with ; but for 
a good conscience they left all, and for the sake of Christ 
and his word they forsook father and mother. And hap- 
pily the learned archdeacon himself, who now so much dis- 
approved their conduct, afterwards saw reason to retract 
his judgement, and if he could not altogether approve, 
at least he ceased to condemn and learned to acquiesce. 

The venerable diocesan received the intelligence of 
Mr. Lindsey' s intended resignation with much regret, 
and endeavoured, by every argument and motive which 
zeal and friendship could suggest, to retain in the church 
so bright an ornament to the established priesthood. But 
his efforts, though well intended, were unavailing. Mr. 
Lindsey's resolution had been formed upon deliberation 
too mature, and upon principles too sacred and too firmly 
riveted, to be in the least degree shaken by the argu- 
ments or expostulations of the worthy prelate ; who 
frankly and honourably acknowledged,, when the deed of 
resignation was at last delivered in at the end of the 
month, that he had lost the most exemplary parochial 
minister in his diocese^. 

Thus did Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey, in obedience to the 
voice of enlightened conscience, resign their beloved re- 
sidence at Catterick, with ail its secular advantages and 
comforts, and with their little pittance of private property 



* N. B. For the interesting correspondence between Mr. Lindsey and his 
worthy diocesan, see Appendix, No. IV. 



64 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. III. 



set out in the bleak month of December in search of a 
resting-place where they might be able to maintain them- 
selves by honourable industry^ and might best promote 
the great doctrine of the Divine Unity and the sole un- 
rivalled supremacy of the Father. 

The world was all before thera, where to choose 
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide. 



CHAPTER III. 

FROM MR. LINDSEY'S RESIGNATION OF CATTERICK, TO 
THE OPENING OF THE CHAPEL IN ESSEX-STREET. 

Indeed they soon found that the diminution of income 
was not the only difficulty with which they had to con- 
tend. In the days of their prosperity, and while they 
continued in connexion with the established church, they 
had many warm friends who gladly received them at all 
times into their houses, and entertained them hospitably, 
and many of whom concurred with Mr. Lindsey in the 
application to parliament for relief from subscription. 
But now the case was quite altered. Former friends 
looked coldly upon them ; and some, of whom better 
things might have been expected, whose conduct was 
silently reproved by the magnanimous example of Mr. 
Lindsey, were not sparing in loud and strong expressions 
of disapprobation of what they were pleased to term the 
precipitancy and imprudence of his conduct in aban- 
doning a situation of respectability and usefulness in the 
church; and not a few were willing to leave them to 
their fate. Some indeed of Mrs. Lindsey's more opu- 
lent relations offered to provide for her an asylum and 
competence, if she Would abandon the society and the 
fortunes of her husband. It is needless to say that such a 
proposal was rejected with the indignation it deserved. 



CH. III.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



f)5 



From Catterick "the pilgrims" first went to Bedale 
to Mrs. Harrisons, and the next day to Wakefield, ac- 
companied by their accomplished friend who had drank 
deeply into the same spirit, Miss Harrison, now Mrs. 
Cappe, to pass a day or two in the society of the venera- 
ble Mr. Turner, to enjoy the benefit of his sympathy, 
his counsels, his consolations, and his prayers. Of this 
delightful and instructive visit this excellent man gives 
the following account in a letter to an intimate friend : 

" Since I wrote to you last I had the pleasure of Mr. 
and Mrs. Lindsey's company one whole day and part of 
another. They both appeared very cheerful, consider- 
ing that they were launching into untried scenes of an 
uncertain world, with hopes far from sanguine of the 
success of the scheme they had proposed, and conse- 
quently of obtaining the very means of subsistence. But 
confiding in the care of him who promised, * Whosoever 
shall confess me before men, him will I also confess/ 
&c. they both, and particularly Mrs. Lindsey, seemed 
to exult in having broke loose from ecclesiastical thral- 
dom and gained mental liberty, and expressed much in- 
dignation against those who, having been educated in 
liberty of inquiry, and instructed in the value of it, have 
for the sordid considerations of this world submitted to 
shackles and to servitude." 

From their hospitable friends at Wakefield, where they 
took an affectionate leave of their amiable fellow-traveller, 
Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey proceeded to Aston, near York, 
the residence of the reverend William Mason, the cele- 
brated poet, the friend and biographer of Gray, who 
entertained them for a week at his house with great cor- 
diality ; — though the conduct of Mr. Lindsey in resign- 
ing his living was much canvassed at York, where Mr. 
Mason was precentor of the cathedral, and was much 
condemned by some who were in repute for wisdom, who 



66 



MEM OI KS OF THE LATE 



[ch. in. 



spoke of liini " us a well-meaning person, who would 
have done nmeh less harm to soeiety if he had never 
gone into the church at all*." 

To York Mr. Lindsey had sent his library, which he 
consigned to the care of his friend Mr. Cappe, to be sold 
in order to raise a temporary supply for the support of 
himself and Mrs. Lindsey ; having reserved for himself 
a small number of books only for immediate use'|\" 

* Whatever might be the language of these wise judges in their select 
parties concerning Mr. Lindsey, none of them were so indiscreet as to pub- 
lish their censures of his dharadfcer and conduct excepting one, Dr. William 
Cooper, a dignitary of the cathedral at York, and brother to Crey Cooper, 
Esq. M.V. who had also been a college friend of Mr. Lindsey. This Dr. 
Cooper, amongst others, made great interest to obtain the vicarage of Cat- 
terick upon Mr. Lindsey's resignation. But not being successful in his 
suit, the living being given to Dr. Chaytor, the brother-in-law of Mr. 
Robinson, Lord North's private secretary, this worthy dignitary grew very 
angry that the living was resigned at all : and in the York Chronicle of Ja- 
nuary 2S, 1774, under the signature of Erasmus, he published a most foolish 
and furious inveetive against Mr. Lindsey. It begins thus : " Before you 
attempt to amend the liturgy, amend the articles, or amend any thing else, 
— you would do well, in the judgement of all rational beings, to amend your 
mode of writing, and, what is of more consequence, to amend your mode of 
thinking. But J cry your mercy. You cannot err, illuminated sir; you 
have had a divine impulse," &c. And again : " If you had either the courage, 
or the goodness of heart, to let us know what your real sentiments are, tis 
more than probable that we should deservedly hold you in extreme con- 
tempt," &c. 

Such despicable and outrageous rant merited nothing but " extreme con- 
tempt." However, it had its use. It brought forward a host of advocates 
in defence of the fair fame of the absent and calumniated confessor. In the 
foremost rank of these were the reverend N. Cappe, of York, and the re- 
verend W. Turner, of Wakefield. To the credit of the order, and the still 
greater credit of Mr. Lindsey's unimpeachable and spotless character, not 
one of the clergy of the established church, how much soever they might be 
offended with Mr. Lindsey's doctrine or his secession, stood forward to join 
in the attack, or to assist a distressed brother. They prudently and silently 
left him to his fate. And the miserable assailant, having in vain attempted 
under different signatures to maintain his ground and to defend his charge, 
after being detected, defeated, and exposed in every shape that he assumed, 
was in the end compelled to retire from the field, humbled, confounded, and 
disgraced. Nor does it appear that this officious, and malignant, zeal for 
the church was at that time thought worthy of additional preferment. 

That every body did not entertain the same opinion of Mr. Lindsey's con- 
duct as Dr. Cooper and his associates at York, appears from some letters 
written to Mr. Lindsey upon this interesting occasion, which are inserted in 
the Appendix ; one of which is from Mr. Grey Cooper himself, the brother 
of Dr. C. and the friend of Lord North. A pp. No. V. 

f This, no dovibt, select and valuable collection, at that time produced no 
more than the scanty pittance of £ '6'6. 



CH. III.] 



REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



From Aston, Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey went to Swinder- 
by, near Newark, where they made a transient visit to 
Mr. afterwards Dr. Disney, a clergyman of great learn- 
ing and respectability, who was an active member of the 
Association at the Feathers Tavern. He shortly after- 
wards married Miss Blackburne, the daughter of the 
learned Archdeacon of Cleveland, and half-sister to Mrs. 
Lindsey, who, much to her honour, expressed upon all 
occasions her high approbation of the step which Mr. 
Lindsey had taken ; and with the generosity and ardour 
which belonged to her character, she defended the prin- 
ciples and the conduct of her calumniated friends. Dr. 
Disney himself was at that time much dissatisfied with 
many things in the established liturgy ; but he contented 
himself with making the alterations which he thought 
necessary, leaving it to his ecclesiastical superiors to ani- 
madvert upon him as they might think fit. This con- 
duct, however, did not prove ultimately satisfactory to 
his ingenuous mind, and a few years afterwards he bore 
his faithful testimony to Christian truth by following the 
shining example of Mr. Lindsey, in resigning his prefer- 
ments and prospects in the established church. Of the 
process of mind which led to this honourable conclusion,, 
Dr. Disney has given an interesting narrative in a small 
tract which he published upon the occasion # . 

While Mr. Lindsey continued at Swinderby he met 
with and transcribed the alterations proposed by Dr. 
Clarke in the established liturgy, which he at that time 
intended to print, but which he afterwards made the 
foundation of the improvements in the reformed liturgy 
which he introduced at Essex-Street. 

From Swinderby the travellers directed their steps to 
Achurch, in Northamptonshire, the rectory and residence 



* This tract is in the Catalogue of those which are circulated by the Lou- 
don Unitarian Society. 

F 2 



68 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. III. 

of their highly valued friend Dr. Chambers. In their 
road, they passed one day with Mr. Lindsey's sister, who 
was married to Mr. Harrison, an eminent grazier in 
Leicestershire. This venerable lady, three years older 
than her brother, and the exact model of him in piety 
and benevolence, is still living, (A. D. 1810,) meekly 
and with humble resignation bending under the infirmi- 
ties of ninety years. 

From Achurch, he writes to Dr. Jebb in a letter dated 
January 1, 1774, " I cannot but rejoice in your full ap- 
probation of my conduct hitherto, and future plan, and 
feel myself continually encouraged by it. I have from 
the first entertained a feeble imagination that, perhaps, 
I might have an honourable coadjutor in the friend I am 
writing to for an Unitarian chapel, if it should meet with 
the patronage which some promise it." He adds, " Our 
common friend and present host is most heartily with 
us in every thing." The patronage to which Mr. Lindsey 
alludes, was probably that of which he received intelli- 
gence from Dr. Priestley, who was then in London with 
Lord Shelburne, and indefatigable in his exertions to 
serve his friend, and to promote his design of opening a 
chapel in London, and whose sanguine spirit led him, 
perhaps, to rely rather too much upon the promises of 
the great. In a letter to Mr. Turner he writes : " All 
my friends are very sanguine in favour of Mr. Lindsey's 
Unitarian Chapel. Dr. Franklin says he knows several 
persons of distinction who will wish to encourage it, and 
several have proposed to subscribe to it. His Farewell 
Address I have just read, and was much affected with it: 
and so was Lord Shelburne, to whom I showed it. He 
is very desirous to see him as soon as he comes to Lon- 
don." This, no doubt, was encouraging. But it will 
appear in the sequel that the persons to whom Dr. 
Priestley alludes, were not these to whose exertions and 



CH. III.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 69 

support Mr. Lindsey was most indebted for the execu- 
tion of the scheme which he had so much at heart. 

At Achurch Mr. Lindsey finished the revisal of the 
last sheet of his Apology, which was published the be- 
ginning of January, notwithstanding the remonstrances 
of Archdeacon Blackburne, who was apprehensive that 
it might be of disservice to the cause of the petitioning 
clergy. To this objection Mr. Lindsey paid no atten- 
tion, justly remarking, that if the Apology was to pro- 
duce any effect, its publication must be immediate, while 
the occasion of it was fresh in memory. " To suspend 
it now/' says he in a letter to a friend, <c would be to 
sink it for ever." And as he conceived that such a work 
was necessary for his own vindication, and, what in his 
estimation was of far greater moment, that it would be 
of use for the promulgation of truth, he also hoped that 
it would contribute to promote, rather than obstruct, the 
object of the associated clergy. 

The design of this excellent treatise, as set forth in 
the preface, " was not barely to offer a vindication of the 
motives, conduct, and sentiments of a private person 
upon the subject of it, however important to him, but 
to promote that charity without which a faith that can 
remove mountains is nothing, and to excite some to 
piety, virtue, and integrity." 

It begins with some strictures upon the origin of the 
doctrine of the Trinity, and the opposition it met with 
to the time of the Reformation. It then treats of the 
state of the Unitarian doctrine, in our own country more 
especially, from the aera of the Reformation, with an ac- 
count of those Christians who have professed it ; and 
proceeds to prove that there is but One God, the Father, 
and that religious worship is to be offered to this One 
God, the Father, only. In the next chapter it states the 
causes of this unhappy defection among Christians, from 



70 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. III. 



the simplicity of religious worship prescribed in the scrip- 
tures of the New Testament. It then shows how union 
in God's true worship is to be attained, and concludes 
with a modest and concise but affecting detail of the 
writer's particular case and difficulties. The work, the 
first in which the venerable author publicly adventured 
to defend his unpopular tenets, is drawn up with great 
care, and with much simplicity and candour. It breathes 
throughout an excellent spirit of piety and benevolence. 
It was revised with great attention by Mr. Turner ; and 
in the judgement of every serious and impartial person, 
whether agreeing or disagreeing with the writer in his 
peculiar principles, it contains a complete and masterly 
vindication of his conduct in withdrawing from his si- 
tuation in the established church. This Apology, in 
less than ten years, passed through four editions. 

On the 10th of January, 1774, Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey 
arrived at London, having spent a day or two in their 
way at Paxton with Mr. Lindsey's old college friend, 
Richard Reynolds, Esq. who having imbibed the prin- 
ciples and the spirit of the virtuous protector of his youth, 
and his esteem and affection for his venerable friend 
having been if possible increased by his late noble act of 
disinterested virtue, received him and his fellow-traveller, 
and fellow-sufferer upon the present occasion, with re- 
doubled satisfaction ;* 



* While he was at Paxton, Mr. Lindsey received intelligence of the sudden 
decease of Thomas Hollis, Esq. the celebrated and zealous friend to liberty, 
civil and religious. Of this gentleman Archdeacon Blackburne published an 
interesting Memoir in two volumes in quarto. He was the friend and con- 
fidential correspondent of Mr. Lindsey, under the assumed title of Pierce 
Delver. He wos the ready and liberal patron of all who were in distress, 
and particularly of those who suffered in the cause of civil and religious* li- 
berty, or for the sake of truth and a good conscience. It cannot be doubted 
that, had his life been continued, he would have extended a liberal patron- 
age to Mr. Lindsey. Happily the venerable confessor did not stand in need 
of it. Some curious extracts from the correspondence of this virtuous and 
honourable man are cited in the notes to this work, and a specimen or two 
in the Appendix, No. VI. 



CH. HI.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



71 



Upon their arrival at London they proceeded by par- 
ticular invitation to Dr. Ramsden's, then in an inferior 
situation, afterwards the worthy Master of the Charter 
House, a gentleman of great learning and probity, and 
of the most liberal principles ; who rose to the honour- 
able office which he occupied by no other interest than 
that of personal merit, and who was not afraid of ha- 
zarding his reputation and his preferment by affording 
an asylum to his ex-benenced friend. Here they were 
very hospitably entertained for ten days or a fortnight, 
till they had provided themselves with decent but humble 
lodgings, being two rooms on a ground-floor, in Fea- 
therstone Buildings, Holborn, where they now fixed their 
abode, and sold the plate which they had brought with 
them to London to purchase necessaries for present sub- 
sistence. 

But the scene soon began to brighten. Though few 
comparatively of Mr. Lindsey's former friends visited or 
noticed him in his voluntary retirement ; though some, 
whose principles nearly coincided with his own, but 
whose timidity and half-measures were condemned, not 
by his language, for he was the humblest and most 
candid of mankind, and very far indeed from making his 
own conduct a law to others, but by his bright and edi- 
fying example, not only gave no encouragement to the 
plan he had in contemplation, but openly and without 
reserve expressed their disapprobation of it : he neverthe- 
less met with great approbation and support from quarters 
where it was least expected. Many persons both of the 
establishment and among the dissenters, perfect strangers 
to Mr. Lindsey, deeply impressed with veneration for 
his character, and admiration of the noble sacrifice which 
he had made for the sake of truth and conscience, vi- 
sited him in his humble lodgings to testify their regard 
to him, and to offer their services in any way in which 



72 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. III. 



they might be of use. And when they heard of Mr. 
Lindsey' s design of opening a chapel for the worship of 
the one God, the Father of Jesus Christ, many expressed 
their warm approbation and their active hearty concur- 
rence in the execution of the design. Some promised 
to indemnify Mr. Lindsey in making the experiment. 
Others, and chiefly among the rational dissenters, sub- 
scribed liberally towards the design. Dr. Priestley and 
Dr. Price were active and zealous friends. Samuel Shore, 
Esq. then of Norton Hall, now of Meersbrook, in York- 
shire, whose name ranks high among the advocates for 
civil and religious liberty, the patrons of truth and sci- 
ence, and the friends of pure and practical Christianity, 
called upon Mr. Lindsey with a present of a hundred 
pounds from a friend whose name was then concealed, 
but since known to have been Robert Newton, Esq. of 
Norton House*, whose delight was to spend the income 
of a large estate in doing good in the most private 
manner possible, and from the shade of retirement to 

* Robert Newton, Esq. of Norton House : of the character of this emi- 
nently benevolent man, the following interesting sketch is given by his in- 
timate acquaintance the reverend W. Turner, of Wakefield, to Mr. Lindsey, 
in a letter dated June 14, 1777 : 

<e Robert Newton, Esq. is a near neighbour to Mr. Shore in the same 
village, aged about sixt\ r -six or sixty-seven, and a bachelor of large fortune. 
I have known him since the year 1732, when, and for two or three years 
afterwards, we were fellow-pupils under Dr. Latham, at Findern, near Derby. 
His mother lost her husband when she was pregnant of this son, and gave 
so much way to grief for that event, as was supposed to have an ill effect 
on the constitution of her child. He has always had very weak nerves and 
uneven spirits, but generally a prevailing hypochondria. For many years 
past he has been telling his friends that he should soon give them the slip : 
but in the mean time he has looked well and grown bulky. When any ex- 
traordinary case, particularly for the service of his friends, called for it, he 
could exert as much vigour, activity, and resolution as any man. To an ex- 
ertion of this kind the two Miss owed their fortunes. They had an un- 
happy brother, of either defective understanding or capricious or bad tem- 
per, or both, who being passed his majority, and a student at Edinburgh, 
died there. Immediately an episcopal clergyman, in whose house he had 

boarded, pretended that Mr. had married his daughter, and made a will 

by which he had bequeathed all his fortune to her absolutely. When the 
family was informed of this, Mr. Newton, having furnished himself with 
pr per power, and being also a guardian and trustee, set off express, met 



CH. III.] REVEREND THEOPHIU'S LINDSEY. 



73 



scatter blessings upon his fellow creatures. To tins 
princely donation of Air. Newton, Mr. Shore generously 
added a very liberal present of his own ; and to the end 
of Mr. Lindsey 's life he continued the warm personal 
friend, and the firm and liberal supporter of him and his 
cause. In this way a sum was very soon subscribed 
adequate to every purpose which Mr. Lindsey had in 
view. And by the exertions of the late Mr. Joseph 
Johnson of St. Paul's Churchyard, a room was soon 
found and taken in Essex House, Essex-street, which 
having before been used as an auction -room might at a 
moderate expense be fitted up as a temporary chapel. 
In a letter to Mr. Turner dated February 9, 1774, Mr, 
Lindsey thus expresses himself : 

" Dr. Priestley is indefatigable in his endeavours ; and 
to him, Dr. Price, and other friends of theirs, it will be 
owing that the matter is brought to bear at last, as they 
kindly offer by subscription of their friends to indemnify 



the corpse on the road which they were bringing to be deposited in the fa- 
mily burying-place, arrested and secured it ; went forward to Edinburgh, 
made diligent inquiry, discovered many suspicious circumstances, and partly 
by remonstrances, and partly by threats of a legal discussion at the expense 
of his own whole foi'tune, prevailed upon the Scotch pretenders, in consi- 
deration of a few ready thousands, to relinquish their whole claim. He then 
returned with great satisfaction and honour, and ordered the corpse to pro- 
ceed to the family burial place. For such a service, all the connexions of 
the family owe and pay him great esteem and gratitude. Mr. S. says, Na- 
ture formed him for a soldier ; and that as a commander, and especially as 
a partisan, he would certainly have distinguished himself. When younger, 
he made little of riding from his own house to Scarborough in one day ; 
supping, and perhaps dancing there till midnight with a party of his friends, 
and would then remount and return next day. Like sudden excursions and 
returns, to and from London, Bath, Bristol, and even abroad, were common 
with him, — and all the while he was dying. From all the above circumstances 
you will easily conclude he must have had some humours, and even whims , 
but they have always been very innocent, and only laughable. He has al- 
ways been very steady in his friendships, of which Mr. H. a dissenting mi- 
nister at Mansfield, who for many years has been his most familiar friend 
and companion both when at home and in many of his excursions, has had, 
I doubt not, ample experience. — So much for your generous back-friend Mr. 
Newton, who, as a friend of mine said of another person, delights to do such 
extraordinary good deeds and nobody must know ! I need not caution you 
not to draw the curtain behind which he chooses to conceal himself." 



74 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. III. 



me on the first outset. If it be of God, as I trust it is, 
it will succeed. But should it fail, some good I still 
persuade myself will result, and others will easier take it 
up and proceed better. I desire the help of your prayers 
for illumination and direction now and always." In 
another letter dated March 17, to the same friend in re- 
ference to his Apology, he writes, ' ' Your earnest prayers 
are desired for the writer, that he may persevere to the 
end and be found faithful unto death : and with him one 
other also to be joined, whose trial has been and is the 
same or greater." And in the same letter, after ac- 
knowledging Mr. Turners kind and successful recom- 
mendation of his undertaking to some generous friends 
at Wakefield and elsewhere, he adds, " I have reason to 
say, and have said it to more persons than one of late, 
that I have had the gospel promise of the hundred fold 
in the number of friends increased in this world ; and 
should an evil day of persecution come, they would be 
a great consolation in it. This, indeed, is what some 
forebode, especially when our new form of worship is 
set up." In his next letter dated April 5, after acknow- 
ledging the liberality of Mr. Milnes, and relating the 
munificence of the gentlemen of Norton, he writes, " We 
compute that two hundred pounds will nearly fit up and 
pay the rent of our chapel for two years. Behold then 
this sum nearly supplied by a few generous hands. I am 
thankful. But I am sorry to say they are all, one ex- 
cepted, not of the established church." 

In this letter Mr. Lindsey notices to his friend a very 
honourable invitation which he had lately received to 
settle with a dissenting congregation at Norwich, which, 
however, it did not comport with his present plans and 
purposes to accept. 

As soon as Mr. Lindsey was settled, and especially 
after he had met with such great encouragement to pur- 



CH. III.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 75 

sue his primary purpose, he began in good earnest to 
draw up his Reformed Liturgy, very much upon the plan 
of Dr. Clarke's, but with considerable variations and im- 
provements adapted to his own more correct and ex- 
tended views of Christian doctrine, and of the mode of 
conducting Christian worship. Many of his timid and 
lukewarm brethren earnestly recommended to him to 
adhere without any variation to Dr. Clarke's copy, that 
every innovation might be introduced under the sanction 
of the venerable name of that learned and eminent theo- 
logian. But Mr. Lindsey had advanced too far to be de- 
terred by the fear of calumny, or to adopt error because 
it was supported by a great name. Indeed, though he 
was far from wishing to introduce any unnecessary change 
in the public service, he justly thought that it would be 
very inconsistent in him, who had resigned a lucrative 
situation in the established church principally because of 
his objections to the public liturgy, now that he was at 
full liberty to choose for himself, to compromise his 
principles by adopting a form which was open to many 
objections, solely because it was the work of Dr. Samuel 
Clarke. Rejecting therefore every proposal of this na- 
ture, and judiciously resolving upon carrying Dr. Clarke's 
own principle of reform to what appeared to him to be 
its proper extent, he requested the assistance of his friend 
Mr. Turner in this important undertaking; but he chiefly 
relied upon the able cooperation and prudent advice of 
his friends Dr. Jebb, Mr. Tyrwhit, and a few other learned 
and liberal members of the university of Cambridge ; and 
with their aid, in conjunction with his own indefatigable 
exertions, the Reformed Liturgy was compiled and printed 
ready for use by the middle of April 1/74. 

When it came to be generally known that it was Mr. 
Lindsey's intention to open a chapel upon principles 
strictly Unitarian, with a reformed liturgy, great offence 



76 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH, III. 



was taken by many, and means used but without erTect 
to intimidate tin's magnanimous confessor from tbe exe- 
cution of bis purpose. It was even intimated to bim 
that tbe civil power would interpose to frustrate his de- 
sign. But none of these things moved him ; nor could 
any worldly consideration induce him to abandon what 
be regarded as the line of duty. " Our church -superiors," 
says he in a letter to Mr. Turner dated February 9, " are 
said to glory in laying every thing to sleep. I doubt not 
but it will appear that their policy is as much mistaken 
as their Christian principle is certainly defective in this 
respect. Our design of a reformed liturgy is much spoken 
against by them, and highly condemned as forward, schis- 
matical, and I know not what, and intimations given as if 
such an attempt would not be suffered. But these things 
deter not one person, and I hope they will not others." 
Of the methods which were used to intimidate and di- 
vert him from his purpose Mr. Lindsey mentions an ex- 
ample in a letter to Dr. Jebb, dated February 28 : " If 
it were not making an obscure man of too much import- 
ance, I might tell you that two of the Commons' House 
have desired to see me, and to divert me from a design 
which will turn that general compassion now shown to- 
wards me, into open hostility and hatred. I wish no 
other situation but that in which I may be made instru- 
mental in removing the shocking snares that are in the 
way of conscientious men, and the impure idolatries of 
Christian worship." 

That many of the friends of the established hierarchy, 
and that some persons who were of great consideration 
in the government, entertained no small anxiety with re- 
spect to the consequences of Mr. Lindsey's public se- 
cession from the church, there is great reason to believe. 
The spirit of inquiry and of reformation was then abroad, 
and it could not be foreseen how far the generous con- 



CH. III. J REVEREND TKEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 77 

tagion would spread. And who could say that another 
glorious Bartholomew day might not be added to the ca- 
lendar of English martyrology, and that hundreds might 
not be stimulated by the noble example of this truly pri- 
mitive confessor to resign their preferment, like their pre- 
decessors in the preceding century, for the sake of a good 
conscience ! The time however was not yet come. And 
there is no reason to believe that there ever existed in 
the minds of men in power a design or a wish to molest 
Mr. Lindsey. They had too much understanding, and 
too accurate a knowledge of human nature and of his- 
tory, not to be aware that persecution, if it does not ex- 
tend to extermination, promotes the interest of the per- 
secuted sect. And in fact Lord North, who was then at 
the head of the administration, and the rigour of whose 
high-church principles was counterbalanced by the sua- 
vity of his temper, avowed his wish without hesitation 
that every one should be permitted to go to heaven in 
his own way, provided that the public peace was not dis- 
turbed. And though, upon the opening of the chapel 
in Essex-street, an emissary of Government was known 
for some time to attend the public service regularly, in 
order to communicate information to persons in power ; 
yet when it was discovered that nothing was either taught 
or done contrary to the allegiance due to the state, and 
likewise that few of the dissatisfied clergy were disposed 
to follow Mr. Lindsey's example, and that the obnoxious 
principles were not likely to gain over many proselytes, 
ministers of state wisely ceased to trouble themselves 
about Essex Chapel, and suffered the new sect quietly to 
immerge and to find its level in the vast mass of religious 
dissentients. Nor indeed, if the governing party had 
been so unwise as to have urged a prosecution, can it be 
with reason supposed that a sovereign who began his 
reign with the memorable declaration that he would 



78 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. III. 



" maintain the toleration inviolable f and who in the 
course of a long, an agitated, and an eventful admini- 
stration has never in a single instance violated his pro- 
mise, would for a moment have lent his countenance to 
so unjust and cruel a procedure. 

But though the tolerant spirit of the times, together 
with the wisdom and lenity of the superior and more 
enlightened functionaries of the state, imposed a re- 
straint upon the spirit of persecution, there were not 
wanting some busy ignorant people in the inferior de- 
partments of magistracy, who, (( dressed in a little brief 
authority," were anxious to show their zeal for the church, 
their loyalty to the crown, and their own official conse- 
quence, by crushing Mr. Lindsey's design at the moment 
of its execution, and by attempting with equal malignity 
and folly to nullify the provisions of an Act of Parliament 
by the decrees of a petty sessions. The Westminster Jus- 
tices hesitated to grant a license for opening the chapel. 

The place was fitted up, the Liturgy was printed, and 
all was in readiness for performing divine service earlv 
in the month of April ; but as the Justices did not meet 
till Easter Tuesday, April 5th, the place could not be 
legally registered till that day, and it was necessary to 
defer opening the chapel till the Sunday following. On 
the day of meeting, application was made in due form 
to the Justices assembled at Hicks's Hall to register the 
chapel as a place of dissenting worship. But these gen- 
tlemen returned for answer, that they were holding a ses- 
sions for the county of Middlesex, and that, the chapel 
being situated in Westminster, the application for a 
license must be made to the Westminster magistrates, 
who would not sit till Monday. This was a great dis- 
appointment; and many of Mr. Lindsey's friends urged 
him to open the chapel without waiting for the license. 
But his great legal adviser John Lee, Esq. warmly re- 



€H. III.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 79 

monstratcd against it, as giving Iris opponents an undue 
advantage, and earnestly recommended to him to keep 
as closely as possible within the limits of the law. It 
was therefore agreed to defer performing divine service 
in the chapel till the Sunday following. 

On the day appointed, application was made to the 
Bench of Justices holding their session for Westminster, 
at Hieks's Hall, for a license to open the chapel in Essex- 
street as a place of worship. What passed upon that 
occasion was so remarkable and instructive, that I shall 
set it down as it is detailed in a letter from Mr. Lindsey to 
Dr. Jebb, dated the very day that the license was promised. 

" I have the pleasure of assuring you that our difficul- 
ties are over, and we certainly begin (may it be with the 
divine blessing upon us!) on Sunday next. But we 
have not succeeded without striking with the great ham- 
mer, if I may so speak. For this morning Mr. Johnson 
the bookseller went, according as he was appointed, to 
Hieks's Hall, and was there at the opening of the court. 
He got the clerk to move for him that he was waiting to 
have our entry recorded as the court had given him rea- 
son to expect. But Lord Ward, who was that day in 
the chair, said it was a matter of some deliberation, and 
must be set over till the next meeting, i. e. Saturday. 
It appeared from hence that they would put us off civilly,, 
and leave us in the lurch at last. I met Johnson com- 
ing out of the court, and took him with me to Mr. Lee, 
who was engaged at Guildhall, where I found him plead- 
ing before Chief Justice De Grey. I got to him, how- 
ever, and told him our situation. He said it did not 
look well ; but that the Chief Justice's Court would soon 
be up, and he would go immediately to Hieks's Hall and 
see what was to be done. He came like a lion soon ; 
e desired to see the entry that had been given in to the 
6 court to license a place of worship for a society of dis- 



80 MEMOIRS OF The late [ch, hi. 

4 senters ; was sorry such unusual obstructions had been 

* put to so legal a demand ; that he understood it was 
4 said by some that the Justices had a discretionary power 
e in such cases ; that they were mistaken ; that, on the 

* contrary, they were merely official ; and if they refused, 
6 a Mandamus from the King's Bench would compel 
6 them ; that he hoped the great Magna Charta of the 
' religious liberty of Englishmen was not now going to 

* be attacked.' Upon this one or two of the Justices 
said it was their opinion, and always had been, as Mr. 
Lee's, that they had no discretionary powers. On some- 
thing being said concerning the doctrine to be preached, 
and the officiating minister, that some inquiry was to be 
made about them, he told them that * those were sub- 
c sequent facts and matters of inquiry ; that the house of 
€ worship was the object before them, and they were 

* bound to make record of it as desired.' After this, on a 
pause being made, he desired to know ' whether the court 
4 would give him the trouble to come again the next day 
( and move the matter and argue it before them, or would 
6 now grant it.' The latter was conceded, and our certifi- 
cate it was said should be ready next court-day. We begin 
however without it on the authority of our counsel*." 

Such was the triumph of firmness and good sense over 
the narrow spirit of bigotry and persecution . And much 
to the credit of the improved liberality of the times, and 
of the government, this was the only obstruction which 
Mr. Lindsey ever met with from the civil power during 
the whole course of his ministry. All difficulties were 
now surmounted. The vessel was afloat, and commenced 
its voyage under the happiest auspices and with the most 
propitious gales. 

* The fact however was, that the certificate was never granted, nor was 
the chapel registered or licensed as a place of worship till after the defect 
had been noticed by Dr. Horsley in his Letters to Dr. Priestley ; after which 
the neglect was immediately and without any difficulty rectified. 



CH. IV. j REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



81 



CHAPTER IV. 

FROM THE FIRST OPENING OF THE CHAPEL TO THE PUR- 
CHASE OF THE PREMISES AND THE ERECTION OF THE 
PRESENT BUILDING IN ESSEX-STREET. 

On Sunday April 17, 1774, the chapel was opened^ and 
divine service was performed before an audience as nume- 
rous as could in reason be expected, and as respectable 
for rank and character as were ever collected together 
upon a similar occasion. In a letter to his friend Dr. 
Jebb, dated the next day^, Mr. Lindsey writes : " You 
will be pleased to hear that every thing passed very well 
yesterday ; a larger and much more respectable audience 
than I could have expected, who behaved with great de- 
cency, and in general appeared, and many of them ex- 
pressed themselves, to be much satisfied with the whole 
of the service. Some disturbance was apprehended, and 



* It will not be uninteresting to compare Mr. Lindsey's account of this 
memorable event with that of his warm friend and supporter the late John 
Lee, Esq. in a letter of the same date to Mr. Cappe at York. 

" After a little difficulty in getting his chapel registered at the Quarter 
Sessions, which I had the good luck to remove, he entered upon his ministry 
yesterday. His chapel is a large upper room in Essex House, Essex-street, 
in a very central part of London, and in my neighbourhood. The place is. 
convenient for the purpose of containing about 300 persons ; a greater num- 
ber would crowd it. He was well attended, considering that no public notice 
was given of the intended service. There were about ten coaches at the door ; 
which I was glad of, because it gave a degree of respectableness to the con- 
gregation in the eyes of the people living thereabouts. Of those that I knew 
and remember were Lord Despenser, Dr. Franklin, Dr. Priestley, Dr. C alder, 
Mr. Shore, jun., Mrs. Shore, Mrs. Robert Milnes, Miss Milnes, and Miss' 
Shore ; Dr. Hinckley, Dr. Chambers, Dr. Primatt, and two or three other 
clergymen, with a few barristers whom you do not know. All tbe rest were 
to all appearance persons of condition, and in the whole were I think near 
two hundred, and mostly of the Establishment. We were all pleased with 
the service and with his manner of performing it. His sermon, which I 
thought very good, will be printed, and you will of course see it. I begin 
to conceive hopes that his scheme will be patronized, so far at least as to 
produce him a comfortable subsistence. Indeed, I hope it will teach those 
who ought not to have needed such teachings,- that Reformation is both a 
safe and an easy work." 

G 



82 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE , [cH. IV r 



foreboded to me by great names, — but not the least move- 
ment of the kind. The only fault found with it was, 
that it was too small. From the impressions that seemed 
to be made, and the general seriousness and satisfaction, 
I am persuaded that this attempt will, through the divine 
blessing, be of singular usefulness. The contrast be- 
tween ours and the church-service strikes every one. For- 
give me for saying, that I should have blushed to have 
appeared in a white garment. No one seemed in the 
least to want it. I am happy not to be hampered with 
any thing, — but entirely easy and satisfied with the whole 
of the service : a satisfaction never before known. — I 
must again say it, and bless God for it, that we were 
enabled to begin well. And we only desire to go on as 
through his blessing we have begun. I must mention 
one circumstance of yesterday to you and Mrs. J. and 
confidential friends : that Lord Le Despenser was at our 
chapel yesterday : whether he will come again we cannot 
say : but he has subscribed handsomely towards indem- 
nifying us for the expenses of the chapel*, &c." 

As Mr. Lindsey's professed design was to gather a con- 
gregation from the members of the established church* 
it was his desire and endeavour that the form of worship 
should recede no further from that of the establishment 
than was necessary to edification, and to reconcile it to 
the pure scriptural doctrine concerning the supremacy 
and the sole worship of the Father* The clerical dress 

* This nobleman, as might naturally be expected, soon discontinued his 
attendance. But it was considerate and liberal in him to contribute to the 
expenses of the chapel at a time when assistance was particularly needed. 
Other noblemen of still higher rank attended much longer and professed 
great approbation, but contributed nothing. Not that the late Duke of 
Richmond, or the present Duke of Norfolk, would have hesitated to have 
given whatever was right and liberal, if the idea had occurred, or if applica- 
tion had been made to them. But to attend a place of worship supported 
by voluntary contribution, was to them a novelty j and delicacy, perhaps 
misplaced, prevented the friends of the new sanctuary from suggesting a 
hint to the illustrious visitors. Such hints have not always been needful : and 
liberality unsolicited has been sometimes as ample as it was unexpected. 



CH. IV.] REVEREND TIIEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 83 

was retained with the exception of the surplice only. By 
the recommendation of his friend Mr. Turner, a prayer 
was introduced before and after the sermon *. And upon 
this memorable occasion Mr. Lindsey composed an ap- 
propriate discourse, which was immediately published 
together with the prayers. The Liturgy also was pub- 
lished at the same time. Both these works, as well as 
the Apology, had a rapid and extensive salef. 

The subject of the discourse was Ephes. iv. 3. "Endea- 
vouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of 
peace ;" and the preacher shows, that by unity of spirit 
is intended, " the kind affection, good order, and atten- 
tion to mutual edification, which ought to subsist among 
those, who profess the doctrine of Christ. The way in 
which this is to be preserved, is ' in the bond of peace.' 
To illustrate which principle it is observed, that it is a 
maxim of undoubted truth, that in their religious capa- 
city, mankind are subject only to the authority of God 
and of their own consciences, — that it has nevertheless 
been the doctrine of too many in all periods of the church, 
that peace and unity are not to be attained unless you 
bring all Christians to be of one opinion in religion, — - 
that when other arguments have failed, the Scripture has 
been pressed into the hard service of enslaving mankind 
to one system of religious opinions, though such system 
has been oft in direct opposition to it, — that God never 
designed that Christians should be all of one sentiment, 
but that there should be different sects of Christians and 



* In a letter to Mr. Turner, dated April 5, Mr. Lindsey says, "I am highly 
obliged to you for your hint about prayers before and after sermon. The 
latter I have practised for some years, and shall attend to the other." In a 
letter dated June 13, he writes : "lam happy that I adopted the idea which 
you suggested, of introducing a short prayer of my own before and after 
sermon. And I am more happy to find that it is not only approved by, but 
seems to have a good effect in solemnizing the minds of the hearers." 

f Of the Sermon five hundred copies were disposed of in four days, and 
of the Liturgy seven hundred copies were sold in six weeks. The Apology 
passed through four editions. 

G 2 



84 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IV. 



different churches, — that while a friendly benevolent tem- 
per is cultivated towards each other, the different sects 
and churches among Christians, far from being a hurt or 
discredit to religion, are an honour, and of singular ser- 
vice to it : nor can it with truth be said, that different 
sects of religion in a country have a tendency to disturb 
the public peace and quiet. And though it must not be 
dissembled, that the disputes and contentions of Chris- 
tians with each other have caused great miseries and dis- 
turbance in the world, yet the blame lies not on the mild 
and gentle doctrine of the gospel, but on the civil powers 
who have given life and importance to these disputes by_ 
interfering with them. But that wise experience has now 
taught them a better lesson," The sermon concludes 
with stating, that "the peculiar reason of forming a sepa- 
rate congregation distinct from the national church is, 
that we may be at liberty to worship God alone, after the 
command and example of our Saviour Christ. So that 
if any ask what we are, or for what purpose we are joined 
together in a Christian Society, our answer is with the 
apostle, £ we are a people that worship God in the spirit, 
and make our boast in Christ Jesus.'" Phil. iii. 3. 

To this discourse is annexed a Summary account of 
the Reformed Liturgy used in the chapel in Essex-Street: 
the principal object of which is to vindicate the devia- 
tions of this liturgy from that of Dr. Samuel Clarke, to 
which many respectable friends of the author wished him 
to have strictly confined himself, but which advice Mr. 
Lindsey with his usual correctness of judgement and firm- 
ness of spirit declined to follow. 

Upon this occasion Mr. Lindsey, by the advice of Dr. 
Jebb and his Cambridge friends, but as he soon dis- 
covered without due consideration of the subject, pledged 
himself in pretty strong language not to introduce dis- 
puted points into his public discourses. " Far will it be 



CH. IV.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 



85 



from my purpose," says he, " ever to treat of controversial 
matters from this place." But if popular and pernicious 
errors are not to be combated, and if the plain simple 
doctrine of Christianity is not to be taught from the pul- 
pit, it is difficult to say how public attention is to be ex- 
cited: how the mass of hearers are to be instructed, and 
how truth is to make its way. In fact it appears, that 
where public teachers have confined themselves to mere 
moral instruction, and have either not touched at all upon 
Christian doctrine or have veiled their real opinions under 
ambiguous language, the consequence has often been, 
that the teacher by reading and reflection has become 
enlightened while the hearer has been left in darkness ; 
the preacher has reformed his speculative creed while the 
hearers have retained all the erroneous and un scriptural 
notions which their pastor has long ago renounced. And 
as a natural consequence, when a vacancy has occurred, 
a successor has not unfrequently been appointed whose 
system has been directly opposite to that of the person 
who immediately preceded him*. Those who hold sen- 



* Dr. Doddridge's congregation refused to invite Dr. Ashworth, whom 
he recommended as his successor both in the pulpit and in the academy, and 
whose sentiments were in perfect unison with his own, and chose a gentle- 
man, a very worthy person, but whose orthodoxy was of a much higher tone 
than that of his predecessor. A late minister, well remembered by many, 
made his boast, that though he had officiated twenty years at the same cha- 
pel, he defied any of his hearers to know what he believed concerning the 
person of Christ. And it is a fact of sufficient notoriety, that a flourishing 
congregation in the metropolis, in appointing a colleague to their respected 
pastor, who had officiated among them with great acceptance for more than 
thirty years, fixed their choice upon a person so opposite in sentiment that 
he would not even hear his colleague preach, or ever join in communion with 
him. Could such a case have happened had the hearers been properly in- 
structed in their religious principles, and rationally grounded in their Chris- 
tian faith ? It is absurd to say, that if these people had been better in- 
structed they would not have been equally serious. How does it appear that 
they would have been less virtuous if they had been more consistent ? 

The writer of this note can bear testimony, from his own experience, to 
the very opposite effects of different modes of public instruction. While he 
resided in the country as minister of a congregation and divinity tutor in the 
academy upon Mr. Coward's foundation, he gradually changed Ins theolo- 
gical views from an affinity to those of Dr. Doddridge, to perfect Unitarianism, 



86 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IV. 



timents to which they give the pompous name of ortho- 
dox or evangelical, never decline to avow their systems 
in the most manly and explicit manner. And they do 
right while they believe those sentiments to be true and 
important. How unbecoming then is it for those who 
hold a better and a purer faith to shrink from the public 
profession and defence of it, and to leave the adversary 
master of the field ! It is a silly objection which is urged 
by some weak, or timid, or indolent, I will not say in- 
terested persons, that speculative preaching, as they call 
it, tends to diminish a serious and pious disposition, and 
promote a sectarian spirit. As to the latter part of the 
objection, let them read Sir George Savile's remark upon 
the subject of sectaries: and with respect to the former, I 

and a belief in the proper humanity of Jesus Christ. But not being at that 
time so clearly convinced as he was afterwards of the duty of an explicit 
avowal of important truth, he, like many others, satisfied himself with using 
language, which though not contradictory to, was certainly not explanatory 
of his new opinions. The consequence was, that when he thought it his duty 
to resign the connexion, a successor was chosen, a worthy young man, one 
of his own pupils, but one who in Trinitarian orthodoxy far exceeded all his 
predecessors from the first foundation of the chapel. Not so when he re- 
signed his place at Hackney to succeed at Essex Street. That intelligent 
Society, trained up under the candid and liberal instructions of Dr. Price and 
the enlightened zeal of Dr. Priestley, to which his own humble efforts for 
ten years in the same good cause had not been wanting, when a vacancy was 
declared, acted in a manner worthy of themselves and of their teachers. To 
them it was an object of the first consideration, to look out for a minister 
who should be disposed and qualified to support the doctrines in which they 
had been instructed, and which from conviction they embraced and cherished. 
Happily divine Providence directed them to a choice which fulfilled then- ut- 
most wishes and hopes. And the very prosperous state of the congregation, 
which required a larger chapel to accommodate the increasing number of 
worshipers, demonstrates the energy and, if I may so express it, the omni- 
potence of plain, simple, uncorrupted truth, when taught with openness, with 
firmness, with ability, and zeal. May this glorious cause continue to pro- 
sper among the rising generation there and elsewhere, under the same or a 
similar able, active, and eloquent ministry, when those who are now past the 
burden and the heat of the day, and upon whom the shadows of the evening 
are fast lengthening themselves out, shall be at rest with their fathers in the 
land of silence and oblivion. And may the conduct of all who profess to hold 
the pure and uncorrupted doctrine of Christ, at all times, silently, but power- 
fully and irresistibly, repel the unfounded and ungenerous charge, so trium- 
phantly advanced by ignorance or malignity, that Unitarian principles and a 
zeal for truth are inconsistent with seriousness of spirit, with fervour of 
devotion, and with holiness of life. 



CH. IV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 87 

confess I could never see how the increase of knowledge 
had a tendency to produce deterioration of practice ; and 
he would be a very injudicious teacher who did not com- 
bine practical exhortation with doctrinal instruction. 

" Yesterday," says Mr. Lindsey, in a letter to Dr. Jebb 
dated May 23, " I ventured to deviate from the idea 
which you and my friends with you seemed to entertain 
as right, of preaching merely practical discourses, and 
enlarged with much earnestness on John xvii. 3. I find 
it was acceptable to many, and that it was even looked 
for, that I should sometimes treat upon the great object 
and principle on which our new church is formed, in order 
to confirm some that are already come out, and awaken 
others to come out of Babylon. But I expect the greatest 
effects by and by through the nation, from the thunder 

of your s, of Mr. 's, and Mr. — — 's apologies, for 

you can never go out in mute silence and without bearing 
your testimonies against her witchcraft and idolatries." 

Among the earliest hearers of Mr. Lindsey was Mrs. 
Rayner, a near relation of the Dutchess of Northumber- 
land, and of Lord Gwydir. This lady was married to a 
gentleman of large fortune, and was attracted by curiosity 
and the invitation of a friend to hear the new doctrine at 
Essex Street, on the day when the chapel was first opened. 
Through the whole service her eyes were fixed, and her 
attention riveted upon the preacher; and when it was 
over she and Mr. Rayner introduced themselves to Mr. 
and Mrs. Lindsey, and from that time to the end of life 
she became a constant hearer at the chapel, and a firm 
and generous friend to Mr. Lindsey, and to the cause 
which he supported and for which he suffered. Mrs. 
Rayner was a lady of open and unaffected manners, of su- 
perior intellect, and of a well-informed mind. She pos- 
sessed unbounded generosity of spirit, and especially after 
the death of Mr. Rayner denied herself almost what was 



88 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IV, 



necessary to support her rank and station in life, that she 
might spend her money in acts of great but not indis- 
criminate munificence. She became a liberal and power- 
ful patroness of the cause of truth. And to this lady the 
Christian world is indebted for the publication of one of 
the most learned and most useful theological works which 
the age has produced : Dr. Priestley's History of Early 
Opinions concerning Christ : a work which demon- 
strates in a manner which never has been and never can 
be confuted, that from the earliest age of the Christian 
religion down to the fourth century, and to the time of 
Athanasius himself, the great body of unlearned Chris- 
tians were strictly Unitarians, and consequently that this 
was the original doctrine concerning the person of Christ. 
This most valuable treatise was a work of great labour 
and expense, the demand for which would by no means 
have defrayed the charge of the publication. But Mrs. 
Ilayner, with exemplary generosity, supplied the money, 
and to her the work is with great propriety dedicated. 
Many other acts of this lady's princely munificence might 
be mentioned which almost exceed belief in a selfish and 
irreligious age. But she sought not worldly applause; 
and she is now gone where her works and virtues will follow 
her to receive their appropriate and everlasting reward*. 

The cause now began to flourish beyond all expecta- 
tion. The chapel was always crowded with attentive 

* One instance out of many, and that by no means the greatest, of this 
benevolent lady's extraordinary munificence is related by Dr. Priestley in 
his Memoirs, p. 77, London edition. The Doctor mentions, that upon his 
separation from Lord Shelburne he was barely able to support the expense 
of removal. He adds, " But my situation being intimated to Mrs. Rayner, 
besides smaller sums with which she occasionally assisted me, she gave me 
a hundred guineas to defray the expenses of my removal; and deposited with 
Mrs. Lindsey, which she soon after gave up to me, four hundred guineas, 
and to this day has never failed giving me every year marks of her friend- 
ship. Hers is, indeed, I seriously think, one of the first Christian charac- 
ters I was ever acquainted with, having a cultivated comprehensive mind, 
equal to any subject of theology, or metaphysics, intrepid in the cause q£ 
truth, and most rationally pious." 



CH. TV. J REVEREND TIIEOPHIL.US LINDSEY. 



89 



hearers, so that many who came late were obliged to go 
away for want of room. Considerable numbers of very 
respectable names were continually given in as subscri- 
bers to the expense of the chapel and to the support of 
the minister. Among the rest were the late distinguished 
patriot Sir George Savile, member for Yorkshire; Mr. 
Serjeant Adair, with his father and mother; the late 
learned and eminent scripture-critic Mr. Dodson,, the 
translator of the book of Isaiah ; and the present Sir 
Thomas Bernard, the benevolent treasurer of the Found- 
ling Hospital. Nor must I omit to mention the name 
of my respected friend Robert Martin Leake, Esq. the 
present worthy Master of the Report Office in the Court 
of Chancery ; who being then a young man, and having 
by reading and reflection emancipated himself from the 
Trinitarian and high-church prejudices in which he had 
been educated in his father's house, the late Garter king 
at Arms, was one of the first who called upon Mr. Lind- 
sey at his lodgings in Featherstone Buildings, and en- 
couraged him to persist in his design of opening a chapel 
for Unitarian worship ; and though not then in affluent 
circumstances, offered a liberal contribution to the ob- 
ject, and has ever since remained a firm and enlightened 
advocate of the cause: he is now senior Trustee of the 
chapel, and one of the few surviving original founders 
and supporters of the place. 

But nothing of this kind gave Mr. Lindsey more plea- 
sure than a letter which he received in the beginning of 
June from the late Sir Barnard Turner, who afterwards 
distinguished himself so much in quelling the riots in 
London in 1780, at the head of the London Association. 
Of this letter the following is an extract communicated 
by Mr. Lindsey to his friend Mr. Turner, to whom he 
knew that it would give the same satisfaction which it 
gave to himself. 



90 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IV. 



" I have long been held from associating with any sect 
of Christians with that sincerity which my conscience 
and gratitude to the Supreme Being tell me are needful 
in religion, from a thorough conviction that the adora- 
tion of any but the one true God was highly sinful. It 
is therefore with the utmost earnestness that I beg to be 
considered as one of your congregation, and also that 
you will do me the favour of accepting my annual sub- 
scription of five guineas towards the welfare of the so- 
ciety and the making you some amends for the loss and 
expense to which your love of truth will make you liable. 
I shall, besides, be always ready with cheerfulness to bear 
a reasonable share of any further expense that the future 
exigencies of the society may make necessary." 

In reference to this application from Sir Barnard Tur- 
ner, Mr. Lindsey expresses himself thus in a letter to 
Dr. Jebb: Ci I have found this institution a means of 
drawing out, and I hope will be of encouraging and per- 
fecting many excellent characters. Your heart would 
rejoice in reading a letter I received this very week from 
one of these desiring to become a member of our church. 
We are still crowded on Sundays.*' 

The satisfaction and comfort which this excellent man 
experienced upon his deliverance from the galling yoke 
of an establishment which he disapproved, in the perfect 
liberty which he enjoyed of conducting the services of 
religion in the manner which best approved itself to his 
understanding and to his heart, and in the success of a 
scheme for the accomplishment of which he had made such 
strenuous exertions and such great and costly sacrifices, 
a success so far beyond his most sanguine expectations, 
may be more easily conceived than described. He often 
gives vent to the pious and grateful emotions of his heart 
in his communications to his confidential friends. 

In a letter to Dr. Jebb dated March 31, a week before 



CH. IV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 91 

he expected to open the chapel, he writes, <c No one has 
more fears or diffidences, and I think justly, of what I do. 
I sometimes wonder how I came into the service in which 
I am embarked. But I have met with such friends and 
encouragement that I go on cheerfully and without fear." 

In another letter to the same friend, dated July 24, 
three months after the grand experiment had been tried, 
and the success of it was complete, he thus expresses him- 
self : " I have not known what entire quiet of mind and 
perfect peace with God was for many many years till now; 
and I would not exchange it for a thousand worlds. En- 
couraged also as I am that good, extensive good to glo- 
rious Truth does arise and will arise from it. I must have 
died much in the dark had I been called away before this. 
How thankful ought I to be for that good Providence 
which has conducted and preserved me ! You will be 
glad to hear that last Sunday we had a more respectable 
audience at the chapel than I ever saw, except the first 
day. And to-day quite full." So mightily did the word 
of God, and the cause of pure and uncorrupted Christia- 
nity grow and prevail under the ministration of this ve- 
nerable confessor, and so abundantly did his heart over- 
flow with consolation and delight in the success of his 
benevolent and pious exertions. 

It is not however to be concluded, that all was now 
sunshine with Mr. Lindsey, and that the season of clouds 
and darkness was completely over. The tide of preju- 
dice at that time set so strongly against the Unitarian 
doctrine, that there was some reason to apprehend, at 
least, many of Mr. Lindsey's friends did apprehend, that 
some popular disturbance might take place at the open- 
ing of a chapel professedly upon Unitarian principles, 
and that some personal insult might be offered to the 
minister, or some interruption attempted in the service. 
This, however, gave Mr. Lindsey little concern. He 



92 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. IV, 

did not indeed court, but neither did he shun persecu- 
tion in the performance of duty. But in truth, though 
he had received many anonymous libels in the form of 
letters, he had no considerable apprehension of personal 
violence. Happily, under the mild administration of the 
House of Brunswick, religious toleration was the wise and 
liberal principle of government, and lawless outrage was 
kept under severe restraint. 

It gave Mr. Lindsey more concern that his motives 
should be mistaken by some of his associated brethren, 
wha regarded the decisive step which he had taken as in- 
jurious to the object of their petition, a reformation in 
the subscription and in the service of the established 
church. Mr. Lindsey, though he much regretted that 
offence was taken where none had been intended, con- 
soled himself with the conviction which he felt that his 
brethren had formed an erroneous judgement in the case, 
and that his secession from the establishment, so far 
from being of disservice, would eventually be very bene- 
ficial to the cause of the petitioning clergy, by exciting 
attention to it, and by interesting many in their favour. 
" You and Jebb," says an eminent leader among the as- 
sociated clergy, in a letter to Mr. Lindsey, u have obliged 
the Balguys and Randolphs by your integrity, but none 
else, though more may commend. It has been the utter 
ruin of the plan of the petitioners." Mr. Lindsey thought 
far otherwise. " A few," says he to his friend Dr. Jebb, 
" of our petitioning friends, and but a few, will have it 
that my retreat has hurt our cause. But I am embold- 
ened to say from fact and knowledge in this great city 
and a wide range elsewhere, that it has and does serve it 
greatly — nay, has been a great means of keeping it from 
dying entirely." And upon another occasion, alluding to 
the same misconception of some of his petitioning friends,, 
he says, * 6 These things must not move us. I hope ta 



CH. IV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 93 



be enabled to go on In a way which promises to be of 
some present use, nay, actually is so already, in removing 
prejudices and enlarging the minds of some, and may be 
of unknown benefit." 

But nothing appears to have hurt Air. Lindsey's mind 
so much as the malignant reports which were industri- 
ously circulated by some that he had been influenced 
throughout by mercenary views, that he was now in a 
better situation than that which he had left, and that he 
had a promise of this before he resigned his benefice. 
Mr. Lindsey could not but feel indignant at the impu- 
tation of motives which his soul abhorred, of which his 
conscience entirely acquitted him, and to which the whole 
tenor of his life was a palpable contradiction. Upon this 
subject he expresses himself with a very becoming and a 
truly christian spirit in a letter to his kind friend at 
Wakefield, dated June 13, 1774. 

" We have about thirty names upon the list of our 
society as members, who have signified their intentions, 
and some of them what they shall contribute. This gen- 
tleman's (Sir Barnard Turner's) is much the largest. I 
mention this not as if I had any doubt of a sufficient 
provision for myself and the society, but that you may 
know in a general way the w r hole of our state : because, 
I find that it is said I have already an establishment of 
four hundred pounds a year, and that I knew what a good 
exchange I should make when I left Catterick. Such 
reports we must expect. It is here spread about, and be- 
lieved by many, that my wife's uncle at our quitting Catte- 
rick, settled 200 pounds a year on me, though he has 
never seen us, nor admitted us to write a letter to him 
from that time to this. I believe that with Mr. Shore's 
and his friend's benefaction, and those of other friends, 
I have received upwards of four hundred pounds. But 
upwards of two hundred out of this was given purely to 



94 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IV, 



indemnify me for the expenses of fitting up the chapel ; 
its rent, fifty pounds a year ; clerk's wages, &c. I am a 
little sorry I have blotted so much paper and taken up 
so much of your time on such a subject, but I was de- 
sirous you should be acquainted with it. And as I have 
hitherto done, I desire to keep my hands and heart clear 
of all mercenary views, though I cannot bind others from 
imputing them to me." 

Mr. Lindsey alludes feelingly to the same reports in 
his correspondence with Dr. Jebb*. How little founda- 
tion there was for them is manifest from the following 
extract of a letter from a friend, who about that time 
visited them at their lodgings : "I had the satisfaction 
of finding our worthy friends in pretty good health and 
spirits : but by no means in the affluent situation in 
which common fame in Yorkshire had placed them. 
The lodgings they are in at present are close, inconve- 
nient, and expensive : nor have they yet been able to 
meet with any thing more suitable to them. But the 
cause in which Mr. Lindsey is engaged has power to 
soften every difficulty, and he has need of such support." 

It became now incumbent upon Mr. Lindsey to de- 
fend his principles from the press as well as from the 
pulpit. The Apology was not permitted to pass without 
animadversion and attempts at refutation. The first who 
entered the lists was Mr. Burgh of York, a member of 
the Irish parliament, a young man of some talents, of 
estimable character, and of liberal political principles, 

* " Nothing," says Mr. Lindsey in a letter to Dr. Jebb, dated May 22d, 
"is yet settled with regard to those who are or will be members of our 
church, and their contributions, though several of them have spoken to me 
about it. But I am in no hurry on that account. And I wish ever to keep 
at a distance from the suspicion of attention to money ; though such sus- 
picions have been, are, and will be imputed by those who judge of others 
by themselves." In another letter dated June /th, he writes : " You shall 
know every thing when I see you, how we go on. In the mean time though 
I have the highest cause to be thankful to God's good providence, there is 
no foundation for reports which some put about with no good design." 



CH. IV.] REVEREND THEOFHILUS LINDSEY. 95 



but little versed in theological controversy. He published 
so early as the month of June 1774, a work entitled A 
Scriptural Confutation of the Arguments against the 
One Godhead of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, pro- 
duced by the Rev. Mr. Lindsey in his late Apology. 
This treatise as^ an argumentative work was trifling in 
the extreme, and must immediately have passed into the 
oblivion to which it has long been consigned, had it not 
been supported and puffed off by some persons of note, 
who no doubt thought it was calculated to make an im- 
pression upon the numerous class of readers to whom 
sounds are a ready substitute for sense*. Of this work 
Mr. Lindsey thought it quite sufficient to take a slight 
notice in the preface to the Sequel to his Apology. In 
the same preface he also replied, as far as it was judged 

* Of Mr. Burgh's argument the following are curious specimens. Because 
we read in Scripture of the grace of God, and also of the grace of our Lord 
Jems Christ; because Paul calls himself a servant of God, and also of Jesns 
Christ ; and because the gospel is called the gospel of God, and also the go- 
spel of Christ; and "that which is God's is not another's," as the author 
sagaciously remarks, 4* therefore Christ is God, one with the Father." Se- 
quel. Prep. p. x. xi. To attempt a refutation of such arguments would be 
a prostitution of reason. Mr. Lindsey in a letter to Mr. Turner, dated June 
13, 1774, mentions that the pamphlet, then anonymous, had been sent him 
by the author ten days before. *' I really took the book," says he, " to be 
the work of some methodist at first perusing.it, and nothing in it solid or that 
might require an answer. But I was much surprised the other day in con- 
versing with Mr. Mason, to find that he had been privy to the publication, 
had revised some of the proof sheets, and approved the doctrine in the highest 
degree. Nay, he told me that Dr. Hurd had just then told him that the 
writer .expressed his own sentiments upon the Trinity. But I could net 
help telling Mr. Mason that he and his friend were easily pleased. That he 
boasted too much of the author's freedom from prejudice as being a young 
man who had never read any controversy on the Trinity : as if we received 
no prejudices but from reading. Mr. Mason added, 'the book must make 
a great noise,' which I would easily believe if they cried it up." In a letter 
to Dr. Jebb, dated June 1 7th, he writes : " The zeal to propagate the Lay- 
mans (Mr. Burgh's) pamphlet is most extraordinary. A friend of mire on 
Sunday, dining with a very high personage, found the book brought to the 
Lady of the house by a noble Lord of the company, a friend of Mr. Mason. 
With regard to the two origina lcommenders of it, I declare I am amazed 
they can find no better salvo for their consciences in the use of our Trinitarian 
forms. And it has much lessened them both in my estimation. If upon 
perusal of it you should put a few thoughts together, and be disposed to let 
them be printed, I should be very glad : not for the importance of the piece 
itself, but for the vogue which it is to have given to it." 



96 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. IV. 

needful, to two other pamphlets which' had been pub- 
lished against his Apology ; one of which, by Mr. Bing- 
ham, of Dorsetshire, w r as entitled A Vindication of the. 
Doctrine and Liturgy of the Church of England, occa- 
sioned by the Apology of Theophiius Lindsey, M. A. : the 
other by Dr. Randolph, Lady Margaret's Professor of 
Divinity in the University of Oxford. These treatises 
were written with more knowledge of the subject than 
Mr. Burgh's, but their arguments contained nothing of 
novelty which required particular attention*. The pas- 
sages of scripture which were alleged by these writers in 
favour of Trinitarian doctrine and worship, and which 
had not been adverted to in the Apology, were explained 
in the Sequel. 

This able and learned work appeared early in the year 
1776. It is much more copious than was originally in- 
tended, and contains, as the author expresses it, " a full 
inquiry into the questions concerning the nature and 
person of Christ, and what is the w r orship due to him 
also, C( a further illustration of some things advanced in 
the Apology to which objections had been made." In 
his preface Mr. Lindsey acknowledges his obligations to 
Dr. Jebb, who had lately resigned his situation and pro- 
spects in the church, for his trouble and assistance in re- 
vising the greater part of the work. 

In this volume, the most elaborate of all Mr. Lindsey 's 
publications, the learned author in his first chapter states 
the design of his work, and relates the sufferings and the 
testimony of Mr. Elwall, who was tried for heresy and 



* Save that Mr. Bingham discovered that the word Father, when used by 
our blessed Saviour in prayer, signifies the first person of the godhead, but 
when used by us it signifies the same first person, together with two other 
equal persons, the Son and the Holy Ghost. And that the learned Margaret 
Professor found out that every thing which the candid Whitby had to say in 
his " Disquisitiones modestae," in reply to Bishop Bull, had been " fully an- 
swered by Dr. Waterland," though he acknowledges that he had never been; 
able " to obtain a sight of the book." See preface to the Seq. p. xvi. xxi. 



€fl. IV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 97 

blasphemy before Judge Denton at the Stafford Assizes, 
in the reign of George the First ; and gives an account 
of Hopton Haynes, a zealous and learned Unitarian, the 
friend of Sir Isaac Newton, with copious extracts from 
Mr. Haynes's excellent treatise on the attributes of God, 
which was then very scarce, but which has since been 
published and very widely circulated by the Unitarian 
Society, c. ii. The author treats at large of the Arian 
and Socinian worship of Christ, and shows that it has no 
foundation in the New Testament, c, iii. He argues, 
that the Logos or word is not a divine person or intelli- 
gent agent, but that it is the wisdom and power of the 
Father by which the world was made, and by which Christ 
and his apostles were inspired and were enabled to per- 
form their mighty works, c. iv. This doctrine, concern- 
ing the divine Logos, word, or wisdom, is further illus* 
trated by comparing it with various passages in the New 
Testament, in which Christ is represented as being guided 
and assisted by the spirit of God, which the learned writer 
assumes to be the same as the Logos, c. v. He examines 
distinctly and critically those passages in the New Tes- 
tament which have been supposed to favour the pre-ex- 
istence of Christ, and particularly those in St. John's 
gospel, c. vi. He argues very forcibly and successfully 
against the strange and unscriptural doctrine of two Je- 
hovahs, the one supreme, the other subordinate: the 
latter a great angel who personated the character and 
assumed the name of the Supreme, who was the medium 
of all the divine dispensations to mankind, and the im- 
mediate object of religious worship to the Jewish church: 
which angel animated the body of Christ. This hypo- 
thesis, which had always been maintained by learned 
Arians, ancient and modern, had lately been very plau- 
sibly stated, and very ably defended, in a learned work 
by the reverend Henry Taylor, the rector of Crawley, 

H 



98 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IV. 



under the assumed character of Benjamin Ben Morde- 
cai, a converted Jew. To this treatise Mr. Lindsey 
makes a calm, detailed, and satisfactory reply, c. vii. The 
work goes on further to plead from the language of Moses 
and the prophets, and from the explicit declarations of 
the apostles and evangelists and even of Christ himself, 
that he was really a man, and that the truth of this doc- 
trine is not impeached by the great and lasting errors of 
Christians concerning it. c. viii. The author comments 
upon the testimony of the Apostolical Fathers concern- 
ing the nature and person of Christ ; and, Lastly, he 
concludes with a critical examination of those passages 
In St, Paul's epistles, in which creation is supposed to 
be ascribed to Christ, and clearly shows that creation is 
the proper work of God himself without any instrument 
or deputy ; that this is the uniform doctrine of the scrip- 
tures, and that those expressions of Paul which are 
thought by many to teach a different doctrine, are to be 
understood of the new creation, and of the renovation of 
the moral world by the gospel of Christ. 

In his interpretation of some of the controverted texts 
all may not be entirely agreed, who nevertheless coincide 
with the learned and worthy author in his views of the 
person of Christ. But as long as that important con- 
troversy shall continue, Mr. Lindsey's Sequel must al- 
ways be regarded as a standard work, and as a bright 
example of free and fearless discussion, blending itself 
with that amiable spirit of Christianity which softens the 
asperities of theological controversy, and which allows to 
all the equal right of private judgement. 

From the commencement of his arduous undertaking, 
and especially from the time when success appeared pro- 
bable, Mr. Lindsey, modestly diffident of his own powers 
and qualifications both of body and mind, was anxiously 



CH. IV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



99 



solicitous to secure the aid of an able coadjutor. The 
first person upon whom he cast his eye was Dr. Jebb, 
to whom he suggested a hint of the business before he 
left Yorkshire. But afterwards, when the prospect bright- 
ened at Essex-Street, and Mr. Lindsey was assured that 
his friend intended speedily to execute his long-formed 
determination of resigning his preferment and his pro- 
spects in the church, he made the proposal to him in 
more direct terms *, " I must not forget to add," so 
he writes in a letter dated October 20, 1775, tf as it 
need be said to yourself alone, that with Mr. Tayleur's, 
Sir George Savile's and Mr. Smith's subscriptions,, our 
amount, all things paid, is one hundred pounds f, which 
I should be most glad to share annually, and more that 
I am sure would accrue with such a coadjutor. I men- 
tioned this formerly, but your plan did not lead to the 
pastoral line in London ; but I thought I would name it 
again." Dr. Jebb, however, rather chose the profession 
of medicine ; and though, after he had retired from the 

* In the mean time Mr. Lindsey, probably in consequence of Dr. Jebb's 
delay to secede from the church, appears to have made an overture to Dr. 
Robertson of Wolverhampton. This is hinted at in a letter to Dr. Jebb, 
written in May 1775. 

-f* This was but a very moderate income, even when the necessaries of life 
wei'e at less than half the price which they bear at present, and far short of 
what Mr. Lindsey relinquished at Catterick. His willingness to divide this 
pittance with his colleague is an ample confutation, if such were needful, 
of the calumnies which represented him as acting from mercenary motives. 
But the tenor of his whole life demonstrated that his soul disdained the im- 
putation. It is but justice to the liberality of Mr. Lindsey's friends and sup- 
porters to add, that his income was rapidly increased, and that he was soon 
placed in a situation, not only to live with comfort, but in which both he and 
Mrs. Lindsey could gratify to a considerable extent the favourite wish of 
their hearts, — to do good to others. The third name in Mr. Lindsey's list, 
Mr. Smith, is probably that of Lord Carrington, who continued his liberal 
Dut unostentatious patronage of Mr. Lindsey as long as Mr. Lindsey lived. 
And it may now, March 1812, be added, that his lordship's bounty was con- 
tinued to the widow of the deceased confessor, by contributing largely to • 
an annuity of £100, which was settled upon her for life, to enable that ex- 
cellent lady to continue her extensive and judicious charities, in which his 
lordship was joined by a few other friends of Mr. Lindsey, whose names 
were never made known to Mrs. L. 

H 2 



100 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. IV* 

church he was regular in his attendance at the chapel, 
and retained all his zeal and his activity in the cause of 
Christian truth, he declined to officiate as a nonconfor- 
mist minister. 

Mr. Lindsey was also disappointed in his application 
to another most truly excellent and learned person, emi- 
nent for his piety, benevolence, and zeal for truth, whose 
assistance would havebeen most acceptable to Mr. Lindsey 
and to his friends, but who declined the office from prin- 
ciples most honourable to his feelings, and no doubt per- 
fectly satisfactory to his own ingenuous and enlightened 
mind. Thus this venerable confessor was left to sustain 
the conflict, and to fight the battle alone. But his God 
was with him : a good conscience and a good cause bore 
him up and carried him through, and " his strength was 
equal to his day." For ten years he continued the sole 
pastor of a numerous and nourishing congregation, all 
the members of which held their revered instructor in 
the highest estimation, and many of them gladdened his 
heart by their visible improvement in Christian know- 
ledge and virtuous practice. 



CHAPTER V. 

FROM THE ERECTION OF THE BUILDING IN ESSEX-STREET 
TO THE APPOINTMENT OF DR. DISNEY TO BE THE COL- 
LEAGUE OF MR. LINDSEY, 1/83. 

As the congregation increased, and the interest appeared 
likely to be permanent, it became necessary to provide 
a suitable place of worship ; and after much inquiry and 
deliberation, it was agreed to purchase the premises in 
Essex-Street, which by the liberal contributions of the 



CH. V.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



101 



friends of the cause* Mr. Lindsey was enabled to ac- 
complish, and to repair and fit them up in their present 
commodious form for the purpose of a chapel, and for a 
residence for himself and Mrs. Lindsey. This great 
work was completed early in the spring of 1778, and the 
new chapel was opened March 29. Upon this occasion 
Mr. Lindsey delivered an excellent discourse from John 
iv. 23, 24, upon the unity of God and the spirituality of 
divine worship, which, with the prayers before and after 
the sermon, were immediately published. 

Among the most zealous advocates of the divine unity, 
and for the erection of a place of worship upon the avowed 
principle that the Father alone is to be worshiped as 
God, the late William Tayleur, Esq. of Shrewsbury, holds 
a distinguished place. This gentleman, who by a careful 
study of the scriptures had become a decided Unitarian 
forty years before, who had in vain attempted to form a 
society for Unitarian worship in his own vicinage, and 
who began to despair that he should ever live to see the 
accomplishment of his favourite object, concurred most 
cordially in Mr. Lindsey' s design ; and though from the 
remoteness of his residence it was impossible that he 
should derive any personal benefit, he was nevertheless 

* In the foremost rank of these were the generous inhabitants of Norton 
Hall and Norton House, whose great and unexpected liberality to Mr. Lindsey 
upon his first coming to town has been before mentioned. Upon the present 
occasion, having communicated the intelligence to a friend, to whose kind 
offices he thought himself much indebted for " the friendly disposition of 
these worthy persons," he adds, " I cannot describe the feelings I had on 
such an unexpected instance of generous and public spirit, especially when 
contrasted with some from whom much might have been expected, but who 
are too poor to do any thing." In a letter to the same friend, dated May 14, 
177S, after having mentioned Mrs. Lindsey's frequent indispositions, he adds, 
"but nothing hinders her indefatigable attention to what she takes in hand. 
It was owing to her that our new chapel was ready so soon. And she is 
now no less busily engaged in the habitation underneath, which we are to 
inhabit, and which requires much more to be done at it than we expected ; 
in short, a new house and chapel might have been built for much less expense. 
But it was convenient to have one plaee to assemble in while the other was 
building : and we had no idea that the house was in such a ruinous way a$ 
we have found it," 



102 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. V. 



extremely solicitous that the affairs of the chapel in Es- 
sex-Street should be placed upon a respectable and per- 
manent foundation. He hoped that the honourable ex- 
ample would be followed by many others both in the 
metropolis and in the country, and that houses for the 
worship of the One God would be multiplied through 
the nation. To this end he contributed very liberally 
upon the present occasion ; and a few years afterwards 
he had the satisfaction to see his pious and benevolent 
expectation in some measure realised. A congregation 
of Unitarian dissenters at Shrewsbury were induced by 
his exhortations and encouragement to adopt a reformed 
liturgy ; and the last years of the life of this exemplary 
christian were consoled and delighted by the quiet pos- 
session of a privilege, the hope of which he had hardly 
permitted himself to indulge, that of joining at stated 
seasons in the public worship of the One God, the Father 
of all, in the way that his conscience dictated as most 
rational, scriptural, and edifying*'. 

* " It is now forty years," writes this excellent man in a letter to Mr. 
Lindsey, dated May 1/77, "since I was clearly convinced that the Father 
alone ought to be worshiped as the only true God. Had any one then told 
me that I should live to see a society of Christians openly professing that 
doctrine, meeting together in a chapel of their own, and using a form of 
prayer avowedly drawn up to perpetuate the honour due to the only true 
God, I should have treated such a person as a well meaning visionary. Much 
yet remains to be done, but what may not be expected from so prosperous 
a beginning ?" In another letter, dated November 13, after having made 
over £500 in the 3 percent. Stock towards building the chapel, Mr. Tayleur 
adds, " I have many opportunities of declaring that I cannot give my assent 
to the Athanasian forms of worship, or join in the use of them ; but still it 
is very disagreeable to appear to do this by frequenting the service of the 
church. I have long sought a remedy against this inconvenience, but hitherto 
I can find none ; for there is no dissenting congregation here, or here-about, 
who profess to worship the Father as the only true God, or who would not 
. be offended if any of their members should make such a declaration. Could 
such a congregation be found, I should think it my duty to join them, though 
I think it too much, at least for an old man, to hear, judge, and pray, at the 
same time : and therefore wish for a form of prayer on the Unitarian plan, 
I have endeavoured to prevail on some few persons, laymen, who think as I 
do, to meet one Sunday at least in a month, to read together your liturgy, 
and to declare openly, without blaming those who are otherwise minded, our 
reasons for doing this ; but hitherto I have met with no success, nor have I 



CH. V.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 103 

Of this excellent person Mr. Lindsey gives the follow- 
ing interesting account in a letter to a friend, dated Sep- 
tember 1, 1/83, immediately after his return from making 
him a visit : 

" We took a long flight, you will call it, thence, («. e. 
from Richmond, in Yorkshire,) to Shrewsbury; but were 
well repaid when we arrived there by the sight and so- 
ciety of one of the most valuable of mankind, Mr. Tay- 
leur, in whose house we lodged. He was educated at 
Westminster, and went off Captain of the school to 
Christ Church, Oxford, where he resided as Student or 
Fellow seven years, a hard and real student all the while ; 
thence to the Temple for nearly as long a space. But 
an elder brother then dying, and the family estate coming 
to him, he married the late Sir Rowland Hill's sister and 
settled at Shrewsbury. An excellent classic scholar both 

much prospect of it till the laity take the matter more to heart than they at 
present do." 

What an exemplary spirit of piety, zeal, and moderation ! It is easy to 
conceive how delighted this worthy man must have been when his own plan, 
which he had so long laboured in vain to accomplish, was at last, when he 
was ready to abandon it in despair, unexpectedly carried into effect. Thus 
we learn not to desist from generous efforts to promote truth and virtue, 
though they may for a time be ineffectual. This excellent man modestly 
assigns his reasons for preferring a liturgy to free prayer. Let those blush 
"who judge harshly of their brethren for differing from them in forms of prayer 
or modes of worship. The prayer of the upright will be accepted, whether 
it be offered in language which occurs upon the occasion, or in a written or 
a printed form. 

Mr. Tayleur was possessed of a lai'ge estate, and his generosity was un- 
bounded. He settled a handsome annuity upon the chapel at Shrewsbury for 
the support of Unitarian worship. And Dr, Priestley acknowledges himself 
indebted to the liberality of this gentleman for the most material assistance 
in the publication of many of his theological works, without which he would 
not have been able to publish them at all.— Dr. Priestley's Memoirs, p. 104. 
English edition. 

This excellent Christian died May 6, 1/96, in the eighty-fourth year of 
his age. An eloquent and instructive discourse was delivered upon the oc- 
casion at the High Street Meeting, in Shrewsbury, by his accomplished friend 
Theophilus Houlbrooke, LL.B. F.R.S. Ed. originally a clergyman in the 
established church, but who became one of the honourable baud of confes- 
sors in the glorious cause of the Divine Unity. This sermon was published . 
It is much to be wished that the learned author had fulfilled his original in- 
tention of prefacing his discourse with an account of Mr. Tayleur, as the 
public has in vain waited for the Memoir expected from another quarter. 



104 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. V. 

in Greek and Latin, which he retains, and not unskilled 
in the Hebrew language. A very good mathematician 
also. His time and talents have been always much turned, 
but entirely of late years, to the scriptures, of which he 
is a great master. A strict Unitarian, but of deep piety 
at the same time ; without which, opinions are of little 
value. If you have not heard of it you will be glad to 
know, that some years past, when he could no longer 
attend the Trinitarian worship of the Church of England, 
and could not through long association join with edifi- 
cation in extemporary prayer, he had service for many 
Sundays in his own house in which he officiated, at which 
some gentlemen of the Church of England attended, and 
some of Mr. Fownes's congregation who preferred a form 
of prayer ; and this continued till Mr. Fownes yielded to 
the requests of many of his congregation to admit the 
form they now use, with some additions made by him. 
One cannot but wish that other gentlemen of the Church 
of England would follow his example. Were there to 
be many instances in different places, I apprehend it 
would be one of the most likely means to put the church- 
men on reducing their liturgy nearer the scripture model 
of worship," 

Another very eminent person, who was indeed from 
the beginning a zealous encourager and supporter of Mr, 
Lindsey's design, was Richard Kirwan, Esq. F.R.S. the 
late venerable President of the Royal Society in Ireland ; 
a gentleman of the first eminence in Europe in chemical 
and geological science, and of whom Dr. Priestley was 
wont to say, that he was the best general scholar he ever 
knew, and particularly able in theology. This distin- 
guished philosopher, being from principle and a profound 
study of the sacred scriptures zealously attached to the 
great doctrine of the divine unity, and that the Father 
alone is the proper object of religious worship, constantly 



CH. V.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 105 

attended divine service in Mr. Lindsey's chapel during 
his residence in London. 

From the summer of the year 1778, when he took 
possession of the premises in Essex-Street, Mr. Lindsey 
may be considered as fully settled. All difficulties were 
completely removed ; every thing went on comparatively 
in a smooth, easy, and equable tenour : and the suc- 
ceeding years of life were not more diversified than those 
of other studious persons and ministers of religion com- 
monly are. Mr. Lindsey was in general blessed with a 
good share of health, and a natural equal flow of good 
spirits. His circumstances, if not affluent, were at least 
easy and comfortable. His friends were numerous, and 
he was in the habit of daily familiar and delightful in- 
tercourse with persons of the highest respectability for 
rank, talent, character, and information. His public 
services were attended by as large a congregation as the 
chapel would admit, all of whom revered and loved their 
venerable pastor, and listened to his words as though he 
were an apostle of Christ. He was engaged in an office, 
to himself the most delightful, and to others the most 
instructive and edifying ; at full liberty to search the 
scriptures without any controul, and to speak his senti- 
ments without the least reserve to a people candid, af- 
fectionate, and warmly prepossessed in favour of what- 
ever he addressed to them, as the result of his own pious 
and diligent researches, and of what he seriously and 
conscientiously believed to be the genuine doctrine of 
Christ. Happy in a consort who felt a lively sympathy 
in all his sorrows and his joys, whose principles were in 
perfect unison with his own, and whose prudence, acti- 
vity, and energy of mind relieved him from every secular 
care, and left him at perfect liberty to devote all the powers 
of his mind to the great object in which his whole soul 
was engaged. If ever any person resigned a situation 



106 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. V. 



of ease and affluence from principles the most pure and 
disinterested, with expectations the most humble, and 
with prospects the most gloomy and uninviting, it was 
Mr. Lindsey. And if any person ever experienced the 
accomplishment of the evangelical promise, that he who 
should voluntarily forsake all for Christ and for his words, 
should even in the present life receive remuneration a 
hundred fold, Mr. Lindsey was the man. Of this mark 
of divine goodness this truly excellent man, who from 
his cradle had been taught to see the hand of God in 
every thing, was most deeply sensible ; and without any 
affectation of humility, or parade of piety, he was ever 
most ready upon every proper occasion, and especially in 
correspondence with his intimate friends, to express the 
gratitude and admiration which he felt for blessings so 
far beyond his expectations and deserts. 

In the autumn of the year 1778 Mr. Lindsey was 
seized with a violent fever, which for some days excited 
the greatest alarm amongst his friends, lest they should 
lose their revered and beloved instructor, while 3 for a time, 

the important die 
Of life and death spun doubtful, ere it fell 
And turned up, life. 

The pious and becoming posture of his mind upon 
this trying occasion he thus describes in a letter to his 
friend Mr. Turner, dated October 4, 1778. 

" I never remember to have had an illness, and I have 
had many, for which I could not see reason to thank the 
hand that sent it. I have reason to say so of this last 
on many accounts ; but I would add to you on this : 
because it has given me such convincing proofs not only 
of the tenderness of my old friends, but of the kindness 
and attachment of all the congregation to their minister ; 
and of others not so nearly connected. I desire the help 
of your prayers that I may live, while I do live, if it so 



CH. V.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS IJNDSEY. 



107 



please God, to be useful in promoting the truth of the 
gospel." After expressing his great concern at Mrs. 
Turners illness, and his joy at her recovery, he adds, <c I 
do not know whether the tender husband or wife that is 
a by-stander, does not endure more than the patient on 
the sick bed. My wife I am persuaded slept as little as 
I did for the three weeks nearly that I was confined to a 
bed ; and during all that space, when my head was so 
apprehensive and sore with continual watchfulness, that 
the least noise was a torture to me, she admitted no one 
into the room but the physicians. During my illness 
happily she kept very well ; since she has been much 
otherwise, which is not to be wondered at, considering 
what she underwent, but I bless God she is now tole- 
rably recovered." 

May the writer of this memoir be permitted to men- 
tion, that soon after this, in January 1/79, being at that 
time the minister of a congregation in the country, and 
upon a visit in London, he was taken by a friend to 
attend the evening service in Mr. Lindsey's chapel. The 
subject of the discourse was a good conscience ; and the 
seriousness and gravity with which it was treated con- 
firmed him in the opinion which he had already formed 
from the perusal of some of Dr. Priestley's writings, that 
it was possible for a Socinian to be a good man. At 
the same time he felt a very sincere concern, that persons 
so highly respectable as Mr. Lindsey and Dr. Priestley, 
should entertain opinions so grossly erroneous as he then 
conceived, and so disparaging to the doctrines of the gospel. 
This he ignorantly imputed to the little attention which 
they paid to the subject of theology. Little did he then 
suspect that further and more diligent and impartial in- 
quiry would induce him to embrace a system from which 
his mind at that time shrunk with horror. And had it 
been foretold to him that in the course of years, and the 



108 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. V. 



revolution of events, he should himself become the dis- 
ciple, the friend, the successor, and the biographer of the 
person who was then speaking ; that it should fall to his 
lot from that very pulpit to pronounce before a crowded 
assembly of weeping mourners the funeral oration of 
Theophilus Lindsey, he would have regarded it as an 
event almost without the wide circle of possibilities, and 
as incredible as the incidents of an Arabian tale. So 
strange are the vicissitudes of human life, and so little 
does man know of what lies before him, or of the path 
in which the mysterious wisdom of divine providence 
may conduct him. 

At the time when Mr. Lindsey came to settle in Lon- 
don the American contest was carrying on with the 
greatest animosity. It was an awful crisis for the country. 
The nation was torn asunder by the conflicting parties, 
and it was on all sides portended that the separation of 
the colonies must be inevitably followed by national 
bankruptcy, if not with the loss of national independence. 
Not to be deeply interested in a state of affairs so gloomy 
and alarming, would have indicated a deficiency in some 
of the most generous and honourable feelings of human 
nature. Mr. Lindsey felt deeply for the miseries of his 
country, and for the errors or misconduct of the govern- 
ment. And though, standing at the head of a religious 
party which was exposed to popular prejudice, and ame- 
nable to the laws of the land, he wisely abstained from 
rendering himself personally obnoxious by taking a public 
part in political meetings; and though, being chiefly intent 
upon the great object which he had in view, to restore the 
simplicity of Christian truth, he seldom or never made the 
pulpit the vehicle of party politics, he nevertheless thought 
and felt as a man and a Briton, and hesitated not to express 
his opinions upon ail proper occasions with freedom and 
warmth. The part he took in the political contests may 



CH. V. I REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 109 

I easily be inferred from his intimacy with Dr. Priestley, 
Dr. Jebb, Dr. Price, Dr. Franklin, Mr. John Lee, and 
many other eminent writers and partisans of the times : 
and Mr. Lindsey was one of those patriotic alarmists 
who augured much worse of the issue of the contest than 
the event justified, and who perhaps attributed worse 
motives to the authors of these unfortunate measures 
than in fact they deserved. i( For my own part," says 
he, in a letter to Dr. Jebb, dated June 1774, " I must 
own I have been so much dejected at the present mea- 
sures and condition of our country, that it has broke my 
rest and peace both night and day. Instead of teachers 
of knowledge, wisdom, virtue, and true religion, which 
we might and ought to have been, to be a nation the 
most debauched in principle and practice, exerting its 
powers to extinguish light and liberty wherever its vast 
power reaches, is a melancholy reverse of what we ex- 
pected." 

Happily the American war terminated in the indepen- 
dence of the United States : and this event, contrary to 
the predictions of boding politicians, so far from proving 
the ruin of the two countries, has been found by expe- 
rience to be the greatest blessing which could have hap- 
pened to both. America for upwards of twenty years 
has enjoyed peace and liberty, both civil and religious, 
to an extent unknown in the world before. And Britain, 
exonerated from the expense and trouble of governing a 
distant empire, and forming a liberal commercial con- 
nexion with her emancipated colonies, far from sinking 
into bankruptcy and servitude, soon emerged from her 
difficulties and rose to a state of opulence and prosperity 
unparalleled in the annals of history. Thus she stood 
the admiration and envy of the world, till the portentous 
Revolution of France involved her as some think un- 
wisely, and as others believe inevitably, in a contest infi- 



110 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. V. 



nitely more hazardous, and the termination of which it 
is impossible to foresee*. 

The gentle and pacific spirit of Mr. Lindsey was averse 
to all personal and angry controversy: nevertheless, he 
regarded it as his duty to watch over the cause of which , 
he had avowed himself the advocate, and particularly to 
notice any remarks which might be made upon his own 
publications, and which might give birth to any further 
corrections or illustrations of his arguments. The feeble 
and intemperate attacks of Burgh and Randolph had 
been sufficiently exposed by the Rev. A. Temple, M.A. 
a worthy clergyman of Richmond in Yorkshire, and so- 
lid evidence produced by him to prove that the universal, 
church for a good part of the two first centuries was de- 
cidedly Unitarian. This gentleman, however, was not 
satisfied with Mr. Lindsey's interpretation of the proem 
to St. John's gospel ; and in the year 1776 he published 
a pamphlet entitled " Objections to Mr. Lindsey's In- 
terpretation of the first fourteen Verses of St. John's 
Gospel, &c." And two years afterwards another pam- 
phlet was published entitled "A Letter to Dr. Jebb about 
the unlawfulness of all religious Addresses to Jesus 
Christ." These works gave rise to a publication by Mr. 
Lindsey, in the year 17/ 9, entitled " Two Dissertations, 
i. On the Preface to St. John's Gospel, ii. On Praying 
to Jesus Christ." In the first of these Dissertations the 
learned writer has alleged further evidence in favour of 
the interpretation of this difficult passage, which, after 
Le Clerc, Lardner, and others, he had advanced in the 
Sequel to his Apology, viz. " that the Logos in this 
Preface to St. John's Gospel is not Christ, but the word, 
wisdom, and power of God, communicated to him and 
manifested by him." This interpretation, though adopted 

* This was written in 1812. The unexpected issue of this disastrous con- 
flict is now well known. 



CH. V.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



Ill 



by many learned moderns, differs from that of the Polish 
Socinians, who by the Logos understand Jesus Christ, 
who at the commencement of his ministry was admitted 
like his great predecessor Moses to intercourse with God, 
from whom he received his commission, and by whom 
he was appointed to introduce that great change in the 
moral world which is figuratively represented by the new 
creation. This hypothesis has been lately revived and 
ably defended by Mr. Cappe in the first volume of his 
ingenious and learned Dissertations, and the arguments 
on both sides are stated and abridged in the notes to the 
Improved Version of the New Testament. In the second 
Dissertation Mr. Lindsey shows with great force of rea-^ 
soiling that religious worship is not due to Jesus Christ. 
For, that God is one person, the sole object of prayer* — 
that Jesus Christ is a man, and not God— that he never 
taught men to worship or pray to himself — that the 
worship of Christ is not deducible from his offices and 
powers — that the apostles never teach that prayer is to 
be offered to him — and that there is no sufficient prece- 
dent or example of praying to Christ recorded in the New 
Testament : under which head the learned writer gives 
an able, and, in general, a very satisfactory analysis of 
those texts which are commonly produced in favour of 
the worship of Jesus Christ. This pamphlet concludes 
with a postscript by Dr.- Jebb, in which, though he denies 
the assertion of the letter-writer that he had referred to 
Mr. Lindsey's book in support of his opinions in the 
pamphlet containing the reasons for his resignation, he 
adds, i( I will freely own that I entirely assent, both in 
general and particular, to the arguments by which Mr. 
Lindsey establishes the proper Unity of God* as well as 
to those by which he demonstrates the offering of ad- 
dresses to Christ Jesus to be destitute of all scripture 
foundation: and that notwithstanding what his oppo- 



112 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. V. 

nents have objected, I am persuaded he has sufficiently, 
and very ably, proved these points/' 

In the year 1781 Mr. Lindsey published a small work 
in duodecimo, called The Catechist*, or an Inquiry into 
the Doctrine of the Scriptures concerning the Only True 
God, and Object of Religious Worship. In the preface 
he obviates the insinuation of Mr. Gibbon, that the evan- 
gelist John had borrowed the doctrine of the Logos- 
from the philosophy of Plato. The work itself is cast 
into the form of dialogues between Artemon, an Uni- 
tarian Christian, and Eusebes, a virtuous inquirer after 
truth, who being dissatisfied with the popular opinions 
in which he was educated, is solicitous to gain in- 
formation concerning the character of God, and the pro- 
per object of religious worship. The dialogue is well 
supported, and the argument is treated clearly, popu- 
larly, and concisely, of which the following is a fair spe- 
cimen. In the sixth dialogue the question proposed is, 
" Whether Christ had not two natures, so that he was 
God and man at the same time, and all the depreciating 
things which he speaks of himself as being a creature be- 

* " The title, Catechist," says Mr. Lindsey, in a note to a work published 
two years afterwards, " prefixed to the work, and which occurred to the 
writer from the idea of the famous Origen being Catechist of the church of 
Alexandria, has, it seems, misled and disappointed some persons, as if it 
were a composition fitted only for very young persons : whereas it was in- 
tended, whether it. will answer the purpose others must judge, for those of 
mature age, who have not had sufficient leisure to attend to the subject ; not 
without striving at the same time to make the whole plain to ordinary capa- 
cities." Historical View, Pref. p. 1. In a letter to Mr. Cappe, dated 
October 22, 1782, Mr. Lindsey says, "the title has long displeased me, It 
was taken up indiscreetly and in baste at first. A grave man the other day 
told me that he thought it related only to children, and therefore had not 
sent for it. As soon therefore as I have got off my hands what engages me 
at present, I shall profit by your hints, and new mould the work in some 
measure, adding the second part to it, and, if life be continued, may add 
Other parts, and particularly consider the doctrine of the pre-existence in 
the same way." The title which the learned author proposed to give to the 
new-modelled work was, " Dialogues concerning the true God, and the 
Object of religious Worship." He did not however complete his design, the 
demand for the work net being sufficient to encourage a second edition until 
it was taken into the catalogue of the Unitarian Society. 



CH. V.J REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



113 



longing to his human nature only, as it is called ?" Alge- 
rnon replies, "The supposition of Christ's having two 
natures, a divine and a human nature, taketh for granted 
the very thing in question which ought to be proved." 

" It is a supposal which has no countenance whatever 
in the sacred writings. Our Saviour most assuredly used 
no reserve or ambiguity in what he said of himself. When 
he averred that he received life from the Father and 
Creator of all things, that he could do nothing of him- 
self, he meant what he said most sincerely, and w r ould 
have us so to understand him. When he prayed to God 
for help and strength, he stood in need of what he prayed 
for, and wanted that assistance which was given him." 

" It is a thing in itself utterly impossible that a being 
should be God and man ; creator and creature ; self- 
existent, eternal, independent, and limited, dependent, 
and having beginning of existence at the same time; 
omniscient and omnipotent, and yet ignorant and weak. 
These things are not compatible : we should be shocked 
at their absurdity, if they were not instilled into us before 
we began to make use of our reason, and if many were 
not afterwards afraid to make use of it about them, suf- 
fering themselves to be dazzled by great names and au- 
thorities, and imposed on by high antiquity, which can 
give no prescription to what is unintelligible and impos- 
sible. In short, this doctrine of Christ being possessed 
of two natures, is the fiction # of ingenious men, deter- 
mined at all events to believe Christ to be a different 
being from what he really was and uniformly declared 
himself to be ; by which they solve such difficulties of 
scripture as they cannot otherwise get over, and endea- 
vour to prove him to be the Most High God, in spite of 
his own most express and constant declarations to the 



* See Mr, Lindsey's Answer to Mr. Robinson, p. 172, note. 
I 



114 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[_CH. V. 



contrary. And as there is no reasoning with such per- 
sons, they are to be considered and pitied, as being under 
a debility of mind in this respect, however sensible and 
rational in all others." 

From the commencement of Mr. Lindsey's connexion 
with the congregation in Essex-street, it had been his 
earnest desire to obtain an associate whose principles, 
views, and feelings were congenial with his own, mighty 
in the scriptures, zealous and intrepid in the cause of the 
divine Unity, who might actively co-operate with him in 
diffusing the light of Christian truth. While he could 
entertain the least hope of engaging the able assistance 
of Dr. Jebb, he could fix his attention upon no other 
person. But when every expectation of this kind vanished 
upon the determination of his learned and pious friend to 
enter upon the profession of medicine, his views and en- 
deavours were directed to another most excellent and 
amiable person, a very respectable and learned member 
of the University of Cambridge : but in this application 
he was also disappointed. He was now almost ready to 
give up the point in despair, when to his great surprise 
and joy he received a letter from the Rev. Dr. John Dis- 
ney, the rector of Panton, and vicar of Swinderby, in the 
diocese of Lincoln, an intimate friend, and a near relation 
by marriage, informing him of his resolution to resign 
his situation in the church, and offering to unite with him 
in officiating to the congregation in Essex-street. This 
was in the autumn of the year 1782. Nothing could 
be more agreeable to Mr. Lindsey than this proposal. 
He had indeed long been acquainted with Dr. Disney's 
scruples ; but while his friend could reconcile himself to 
continuing in the church, Mr. Lindsey did not conceive 
it to be his duty officiously to solicit him to quit his pre- 
ferment; especially as he knew how offensive this step 
would be to Dr. Disney's own connexions, and particu- 



cn. v.] 



REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



115 



larly to the venerable archdeacon of Cleveland, whose 
daughter he had married. The trustees of the chapel 
and the friends of Mr. Lindsey cordially concurred with 
the wishes of their beloved pastor, who with his usual 
liberality offered his colleague, who had a growing family, 
a certain income nearly equal to that which he had re- 
signed. And in return, some of his friends, subscribers 
to the chapel, had the consideration to increase their 
annual subscriptions, and Mrs. Rayner, with a liberality 
peculiarly her own, added to her former annual donation 
fifty pounds a-year, which she continued till Mr. Lindsey 
resigned his pastoral office at the chapel. Of Mr. Lmd- 
sey's feelings upon this happy occasion we may form a 
judgement from the following expressions of them in 
correspondence with his friends. " I must not deky to 
tell you," says he, in a letter to a friend* dated Nov. 28, 
1792, "lest you should hear of it less directly, that Dr. 
Disney, who left us last week, was here somewhat more 
than a fortnight, and during that interval resigned two 
livings to the bishop of Lincoln, preached afterwards with 
great acceptance both parts of the day to our congre- 
gation, and the next day was approved as my colleague 
by as many of the benefactors to our building as were 

* The Rev. Dr. Toulmin, then minister of a small congregation of protes- 
tant dissenters at Taunton, now settled with a very large and flourishing 
society of Unitarian Christians at Birmingham, the same which formerly 
enjoyed the privilege of Dr. Priestley's instructions. In this place persecu- 
tion has produced its usual effect of multiplying the persecuted sect. Un- 
der the prudent, affectionate, and pious labours of their present venerable 
minister, and of his able and equally Zealous colleague, the Reverend John 
Kentish, the cause of pure uncorrupted truth, and of serious and practical 
religion, without which knowledge is of no use, is advancing with a celerity 
most encouraging, and almost without example. Dr. Toulmin for many 
years kept up a regular correspondence with Mr. Lindsey, of which he has 
had the goodness to permit the author to avail himself in drawing up this 
memoir. N.B. This amiable and useful man died July 23, 1815, univer- 
sally beloved and regretted. He is succeeded in office by the Rev. James 
Yates, well known by his able and learned reply to Dr. Wardlaw of Glas- 
gow. 

i 2 



116 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. V, 



in town. This you will believe has made me very happv* 
I am the more so, because it was an event unlooked for 
a few months ago. In the autumn when I was at his 
house at Swinderby, I was in treaty with another friend 
and very eminent person to become my colleague. But 
I said not a syllable of it to Dr. Disney, for I knew how 
sore he was ; and for six years past have never by letter 
or in conversation touched the subject of conformity." 
The Doctor, however, having heard by othermeans that 
this negotiation was at an end, "wrote to me," continues 
Mr. Lindsey, " to offer himself, and the result has been 
as I have told you. I have been enabled to allow him 
something handsome, and some few friends have come 
forward to enable me, and so I trust every thing will turn 
out as we wish it. We expect them in January. They 
have a journey first to make to the good archdeacon, 
who thinks that the original sin lies with me in drawing 
his son-in-law out of the church. But I have told you 
the truth and nothing but the truth." 

In a letter to Mr. Turner, dated January 1, 1783, 
Mr. Lindsey writes, " My new colleague is this week 
arrived with his wife and three children. The inclosed 
(viz. Dr. Disney's Reasons for resigning the Rectory of 
Panton, and the Vicarage of Swinderby) which I present 
you with in his name, will give you pleasure, as a mark 
of good sense and a good heart, and likely to do good 
in our common cause. I am the more pleased with 
this connexion, as it was both unthought of and unex- 
pected.'* 



CH. VI. 1 REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 117 



CHAPTER VI. 

MR. LINDSEY PUBLISHES HIS HISTORICAL VIEW. SOME 
ACCOUNT OF DR, WILLIAM ROBERTSON. SOCIETY FOR 
PROMOTING THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES. 

In the spring of 1/83, Mr. Lindsey being now more 
at liberty, committed to the press a work, the materials 
of which he had been collecting for some years. This 
w r ork is entitled " An Historical View of the State of 
the Unitarian Doctrine and Worship from the Reforma- 
tion to our own Times ; with some Account of the Ob- 
structions it has met with at different Periods." This 
is an elaborate work ; and one of the most interesting 
and important of Mr. Lindsey's publications*. The 

* The plan and title of this work is somewhat different from the author's 
original intention, as announced to his friend Mr, Cappe, in a letter dated 
October 22, 1783. 

" The title of my intended work will be Impediments to the Acknowledge- 
ment and Worship of the One living and true God the Father, Caused by 
(or arising from) Christians themselves, especially Socinians and Unitarians, 
from the Reformation to our own Times. 

" Chap. I. will contain, 
" 1. The state of the Unitarian doctrine at the Reformation. 
" 2. The state of the Unitarian doctrine in England at that time. 

"Under the last section will be an opportunity of comparing the advantages 
enjoyed from the liberal interpretations of scripture given on the point in 
question, with the narrow and systematic turn of our interpreters in general. 

"Chap. II. will contain, 

" L Impediments from Socinus, and Socinians properly speaking. This 
will be a large discussion. Socinus will be proved, as he is really be- 
lieved to be, an idolater; and consequences will be intimated with respect 
to other Christians. 

" 2. Impediments from English Unitarians. .Mr. Firmin ; a good deal con- 
cerning him, and the Unitarians of his day. 

" 3. from Dr. Clarke, Bishop. Hoadley, &c. 

*' 4. : from Mr. Tucker, who was a complete Unitarian, but out 

of good though mistaken motives, endeavoured to quiet himself and others, 
by giving an Unitarian sense to Trinitarian language. 

(t Chap. III. will consider, 
" 1. The general pleas for Unitarians attending Trinitarian worship which 

they disapprove. — •. 

" 2. The part they ought to take." 

One cannot help wishing that the learned and pious author had more com- 



118 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. VI. 

professed design of it is to establish the great truth, that 
the One Almighty Father of the universe is the only- 
God of Christians; and that he alone is the proper ob- 
ject of worship. With this view the author intermixes 
illustrations of scripture with historical facts, many of 
which are little known, and are well calculated to excite 
the attention of those who are interested in theological 
inquiries, in detecting the corruptions and in recovering 
the genuine doctrines of the Christian religion. 

" These facts," says Mr. Lindsey, Pref. p. 5, " it is 
apprehended, will be reckoned curious by such as wish 
to know what passes and has passed upon the stage of 
this world of our's, concerning a point of so sublime a 
nature, the diversity of opinions that have been enter- 
tained upon it, the warm passions it has excited, and the 
singular events to which it has sometimes given occasion, 
in whatever light they look upon the religion of Christ. 
But to those who believe that religion to come from 
God, it is presumed they will appear both important and 
curious. 

"The history of virtuous upright minds and inquirers 
after truth, emerging out of the long night of antichris- 
tian darkness, seeking the great Source of being and be- 
nevolent Father of all, and having found Him, yielding 
themselves to torture and death rather than disown him, 
rather than not confess and maintain, and declare to 
others his transcendent majesty and excellency, and su- 
periority to the things he has made, presents the most 



pletely executed his plan, especially under the two last divisions. This is 
indeed an interesting and a painful subject ; concerning which it is greatly 
to be feared that many err, not for want of knowledge but of firmness of 
mind. For, of what avail is the still small voice of reason and duty in oppo- 
sition to the loud clamours of self-interest, fashion, and the estimation of 
the world ? How few lay it seriously to heart, that a day is coming when 
the Man of Nazareth will be "ashamed of those who are now ashamed of 
IjimI" 



CH. YX.J REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 119 

instructive, awful, and animating spectacle and lesson of 
all others, tending to inspire the reader with the like un- 
shaken courage and love of truth, and loyalty to the 
righteous and moral governor of the world. 

" It would be great satisfaction to be made an instru- 
ment in any the least degree, to lead others out of the 
mazes of impenetrable mystery and polytheism to this 
parent mind, to the first Good, first Perfect, and first 
Fair, alone worthy of the highest love, adoration, and 
gratitude." 

In pursuance of his design, the worthy author begins 
with representing the state of the Unitarian doctrine at 
the beginning of the Reformation, and exhibiting the 
superior advantages then enjoyed for understanding the 
scriptures in this respect ; — he then notices the promising 
state of the Unitarian doctrine in England at the time of 
the Reformation, with the violent means used to suppress 
it; — he next treats of the worship of Jesus Christ by So- 
cinus and his followers, and particularly enlarges upon 
the controversy on this subject between Faust us Socinus 
and Francis David, and upon the severity exercised to- 
wards David, and others, for refusing to acknowledge 
Christ as an object of religious worship. In this chapter 
Mr. Lindsey introduces a section in reply to some severe 
and unfounded remarks of Bishop Newton upon the 
Unitarians. — The succeeding chapter exhibits the state 
of the Unitarian doctrine in the reign of Queen Eliza- 
beth and of the Stuarts: and the author here explains 
the cause of the great silence concerning the Divine 
Unity during this period, and gives some account of that 
truly eminent confessor John Riddle, M. A. of the univer- 
sity of Oxford, who, for the profession of his principles, 
was banished by Cromwell to the Scilly Islands, and after- 
wards died in prison. — Then follows an account of the 
state of the Unitarian doctrine and worship from the Re- 



120 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. Vf. 

storation to the close of the seventeenth century, in which 
is included a brief memoir of the celebrated Mr. Thomas 
Firmin, merchant of London, a disciple of Biddle, and 
his protector and friend ; a man eminently useful in his 
day, the friend of Whichcote, Burnet, and Tillotson, an 
avowed and zealous Unitarian, but who hesitated not to 
conform to the worship of the established church, justi- 
fying his conduct, but surely erroneously, upon the prin- 
ciples of Dr. Wallis and the Oxford divines in the con- 
troversy with Dr. Sherlock, that the three persons in the 
Trinity were nothing more than three different charac- 
ters or relations of one and the same Being. — In the fol- 
lowing chapter the author describes the state of the Uni- 
tarian doctrine and worship in the eighteenth century : 
and here he gives a particular account of the opinions and 
writings of Emlyn, of Whiston, of Dr. Samuel Clarke, 
of Bishop HoadJey, of Sir Isaac Newton, and of Abra- 
ham Tucker, the author of a curious and profound work 
entitled The Light of Nature pursued, by Edward Search, 
Esq. — The concluding chapter contains a relation of 
some circumstances favourable of late years to the pro- 
gress of the doctrine of the Divine Unity, in which the 
worthy author, after representing the benefit accruing to 
the cause of truth from an open defence and maintenance 
of it, records some recent public declarations in favour 
of the Unitarian doctrine and worship, by an open and 
avowed separation from the worship of the church of En- 
gland. And in particular, he relates the circumstances 
of the first rise of the church of Unitarian Christians as- 
sembling in the chapel in Essex-street, to which he an- 
nexes a brief memoir of some eminent persons who had 
honourably, and from a sense of duty, avowed Unitarian 
principles, and some of whom had for conscience' sake 
resigned lucrative situations and fair prospects of prefer- 
ment in the national church. In this honourable cata- 



CH. VI.] REVERENt> THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 121 

logue are the highly respected names of Dr. Robertson, 
Dr. John Jebb, Dr. Chambers, Mr. Tyrwhitt, of Jesus 
College, Cambridge; Mr. Evanson, Mr. Maty, Mr. Har- 
ris, and Dr. Disney*. 

Of the first of these venerable worthies Mr. Lindsey 
thus writes in the concluding paragraph of the Introduc- 
tion: "Whilst I am finishing this sheet, I have an ac- 
count sent me from Wolverhampton of the decease of 
my ingenious, amiable friend, Dr. Robertson, mentioned 
near the close of the following work. He was born in 
Dublin, October 16, 1705, and died May 20, 1/83." 

Of this truly eminent person, fC this venerable father 
of Unitarian nonconformity of our own days," as he is 
styled by Mr. Lindsey, I will here subjoin a few anec- 
dotes which may serve to illustrate the uncommon ex- 
cellence of his character. The following account of him 
is given by the late celebrated Thomas Hollis, Esq. 
under the fictitious name of Pierce Delver, which he 
assumed in his correspondence with Mr. Lindsey, in a 
letter, dated February 2, 1/68. It appears that Mr. 
Hollis had requested an interview with Dr. Robertson. 



* The following letter from the late learned and venerable bishop of Car- 
lisle, Dr. Edmund Law, was received by Mr. Lindsey in return for a present 
of this valuable work, dated Cambridge, September 23, 1/83 : 

Dear sir, 

I received the favour of your Historical View, and read it with satisfac- 
tion. You appear to have cleared up ail the passages of Scripture usually 
alleged in favour of the contrary opinion, and to have exhausted the subject. 
As a small return for the obligation, I must desire ydur acceptance of a new 
Cumberland edition of my Theory, purged of some ancient prejudices relative 
to pre-exisience, &c. I have recommended to my executors to procure a 
publication of Dr. Bullock s two Discourses which clear up the doctrine of 
atonement, and which I think I communicated to you formerly. The Bishop 
of Clonfert was returned to Ireland before your letter reached us. He 
would have been delighted with seeing your account of his favourite author 
A Tucker, whose work I have often said wanted methodizing and abridging 
to be of more general use. My compliments to your worthy coadjutor, a. id 
to my old friend Dr. Jebb. That all the success and satisfaction may attend 
your labours to which they are so justly entitled, is the most hearty vyisli of 
your sincere friend and servant. E. C. 



122 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [t'H. VI. 

" The Reverend William Robertson, author of a work 
entitled An Attempt to explain the Words Reason, &c. 
&c, was with a certain person lately at his own desire, 
and stayed with that person from eleven till two. That 
person talked him over closely, so as to get informed of 
his family, education, situation throughout life, and pre- 
sent views. He found him to be in all respects a learn- 
ed, ingenious, cheerful, polite man ; a voluntary martyr 
to the Candid Disquisitions, and religious liberty. He 
presented him with ten guineas, assured him of all his 
general good offices, with open doors at all times ; and 
though very sensible, yet a suckling to the world, sug- 
gested to him the likeliest means of his attaining some 
civil post, by what interest he possesses. At parting 
Mr. Robertson was pleased to say, he should esteem that 
day as one of the most interesting of his whole life. 
And indeed so> in a certain sense, he might say, as the 
informations given him must necessarily appear new, 
many of them useful and determining. 

** He is of a Scottish family, born in Ireland, was 
bred regularly for the church, was some years at school 
in Dublin, where his father lived, under Mr. Hutcheson, 
the after celebrated Scottish Professor at Glasgow, — 
studied several years in Glasgow, was presented so soon 
as he was capable of holding them to Ravilly and other 
adjoining livings, by a then bishop, his patron. These 
livings are worth, on my poor memory, about 150/. a 
year. On them he resided till about the year 1760, 
when he resigned them on account of his scruples in 
relation to some parts of the public service. Some art 
was used to induce him to resign these livings on his 
evidencing those scruples, with promise, in case he did 
quietly, of providing for him decently in some way suit- 
able to himself. On such resignation no care was taken 
of him, but at best, much coolness shown towards him ; 



CH. VI.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 123 

nor will, he thinks, and one person believes, any care 
be taken of him. Before his scruples he was a favour- 
ite of Lord Primate Stone, who recommended him to 
Dr. Robinson, then Lord Bishop of Ferns. — Became a 
favourite of the bishop's, who offered him the livings 
mentioned in his letter, value, I think, about nett 80/. 
a year, 40/. a year being allowed for a curate, with pro- 
mise of further countenance. And he thinks, had he 
continued in the church and in favour of the bishop, 
now Lord Primate of Armagh, he should be probably 
possessed of church preferment at this time to the amount 
of 1000/. a year. When he waited on his patron under 
scruples, he was told, ' You are a madman : you do not 
know the world.' 

"He has several children which are all tolerably set- 
tled, save one daughter single, who lives with another 
married. Himself alone has no subsistence. After having 
sought it years at Dublin in vain, he came over here in 
August last to that end, with tolerable recommendations 
to two persons of some influence, and will to assist him. 
These, however, had the indiscretion at best, to tender 
it on the church line, to the amount of 100/. a year or 
so ! which he declined at once, and so matters rest with 
him at present. One person has put him on a new 
plan, and hopes it may issue to subsistence. He is aged 
sixty-three, middle-sized, and tolerably hearty. The 
same person recommended to him to maintain his cheer- 
fulness, and was thanked for so doing. 

"My dear sir, I scribble off-hand and tired, but you 
cannot, I think, but perceive a colossus of a good man. 
In our age, he should indeed be miserable. There is 
great simplicity with ease in his behaviour; but I suspect 
under it, for my time was but short with him considering 
what I had to throw out to him, strong parts." 

The pains which this respectable gentleman took to 



124 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VI. 



serve this worthy friend in procuring for him some civil 
establishment, were however unsuccessful. But in the 
same year a provision was made for him by the Merchant- 
Taylors Company of London, who presented Dr. Ro- 
bertson to the office of head-master of the free grammar 
school at Wolverhampton, in Staffordshire. A laborious 
employment, and not very lucrative at best; and at this 
time charged with an annuity to a superannuated incum- 
bent who had retired, and who lived some years after- 
wards. To this humble station did the venerable con- 
fessor repair, now in his grand climacteric, when an office 
requiring less exertion might have better suited his ad- 
vanced age ; and here he resided content and thankful for 
fifteen years, discharging the duties of his office with great 
reputation ; and though in this situation he survived all 
his children, and was left alone and unpropped, he still 
retained, as Mr. Lindsey expresses it, " that serenity and 
cheerful trust in the divine Providence, which can only 
belong to the virtuous and innocent mind # ." But the 
malice of bigotry pursued him even into this retreat. 

It has been before stated, p. 32, upon Mr. Lindsey's 
own authority, that no consideration pressed more 
strongly upon his mind, nor urged him more forcibly to 



* In a letter to Mr. Lindsey, dated March 9, 1/69, Pierce Dclver (Mr. 
Hollis) communicates to his friend the following interesting intelligence con- 
cerning this venerable confessor : 

f * Dr. Robertson, I believe, at first thought the school in Staffoidshire to 
be better circumstanced than it really was; and afterwards having been 
chosen to it with great good will and earnestness of the trustees of it, he 
then thought it a kind of shame to decline it. A little before the Doctor went 
out of town, he communicated to me the following singular and very fine 
anecdote, but in his own finer manner : £ That a country clergyman, of a 
good look and great simplicity of manners, had then lately called upon him 
one morning at his lodgmgs, and asked him if his name was Robertson? 
On being answered in the affirmative, he seized his hand, shook it heartily, 
said he had heard much of him, had read and approved his book, rejoiced 
to see him more than any man in England, and that having brought four- 
score pounds to town to lay out by way of addition to some Stock which he 
already possessed in the Funds, there it was, pulling out a bag of money 



CH. VI.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



125 



resolve upon his resignation, than the sentiments express- 
ed by Dr. Robertson in his letter to the Bishop of Ferns. 
And when at last Mr. Lindsey had given up his prefer- 
ment, and had succeeded so far beyond his expectation 
in opening a chapel in Essex-street and establishing an 
interest which offered a good prospect of permanence, 
Dr. Robertson appears to have been one of the first per- 
sons to whom he directed his thoughts and wishes as an 
associate in his labours. To this he was prompted more 
perhaps by motives of veneration and gratitude, than by 
his usual sense of propriety and expedience; for Dr. Ro- 
bertson, though vigorous and active for his years, and 
not unwilling to listen to the application, mast at that 
time have been turned of seventy. To this application 
Mr. Lindsey appears to allude in a letter to Dr. Jebb, 
dated May 10, 1/75. 

"R. was to have preached for me the last Sunday af- 
ternoon ; but on Friday he came to tell me he was not 
quite provided, He is, however, to do the duty on Sun- 
day next. I shall be glad to engage him if approved by 
our congregation, and have told him so. But as what I 
can allow him will not be sufficient for his support, he 
is looking out for some that may be consistent with it. 
N.B. Half of what I at present receive from our subscrip- 

from his pocket and laving it upon the table by Dr. Robertson, — he could 
never dispose of it so usefully, so excellently, as to him. The Doctor, as- 
tonished, entreated him many times to put up his bag again, for that he had 
no need of it, being without want ; which at length, with very great reluc- 
tance, he did, after having repeatedly exclaimed, Why ! man, I have no 
use for it, at least take a part.' The name of this clergyman M as William 
Hopkins, of Cuckfield, a gentleman, it seems, "who has long since distin- 
guished himself for good sense, learning, and public spirit, by his writings. 
Archbishops of England ! Ireland ! who declare difference of opinion from 
your small sect to be a misfortune, match, if ye can, in your like, this pair I 
I could not help saying to Dr. Robertson, that for both's sake, I thought he 
should have taken ten guineas." 

So far Pierce Delver. After Mr. Lindsey's resignation, when he came to 
reside in London, Mr. Hopkins became his friend and correspondent. A few 
Of this excellent man's letters are inserted in the Appendix^ Xo. VII. 



126 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VI. 



tions, the expenses of the chapel deducted, I propose to 
give him if we engage." 

What steps were afterwards taken do not appear. For 
when Dr. Jebb had fixed to leave the church and to re- 
move from Cambridge, Mr. Lindsey could think of no 
other colleague till he had peremptorily declined. After 
this, Mr. Lindsey's attention appears to have been again 
turned towards his venerable friend at Wolverhampton, 
who thus addresses him in a letter dated April 5, 1778: 

(( Some weeks ago I had prepared boxes, and had ac- 
tually packed up some of my luggage, and was saying to 
myself, Transmigratio hinc sit felix faustaque ! when I 
was privately informed that there were some people here 
consulting together, what methods they should take in 
putting the laws in execution against me for teaching a 
school without a license. The Company of Merchant- 
Taylors, London, who presented me to this school, 1 768, 
had a bill filed against them in Chancery three years ago, 
by some very troublesome people of this town, to com- 
pel them to give an account of the issues and profits of 
the manor of Rushock, which was bequeathed in trust to 
them for the support of the school. The Company have 
set forth in their answer, that they have expended 1200/. 
upon this school more than they received out of the es- 
tate. And this I verily believe to be true. I have, there- 
fore, upon every occasion vindicated the Company, and 
have spoken my mind very freely here with respect to the 
persons who are plaintiffs in this suit. This, I find, has 
drawn upon me their displeasure ; and as religion must 
be brought into every dispute, public and private, they 
have now, I am told, taken it into their heads to prose- 
cute me on account of non-subscription. To this in- 
deed, I believe, they have been instigated by some ortho- 
dox clergymen, whose zeal is without much knowledge. 



Ctf. VI.] REVEREND THEOPIIIMJS E1NDSEY. 127 

— And shall I now decline the contest ? No ! — I am re- 
solved either to gain the victory over these assailants, or 
to fall gloriously in defending the most noble privilege 
of human nature: Liberty of Thought! To fiy now 
would look like cowardice. I cannot, therefore, avoid 
abiding the event. If they should proceed, you shall be 
informed of every step taken on either side. The cause 
between the Company and their accusers is to be heard 
by the Lord Chancellor next Term. If he makes a de- 
cree as is expected, it may either animate or discourage 
these warm gentlemen, A little time will therefore de- 
termine that. I long to be with you, but I think it is 
my duty in present circumstances to continue here a lit- 
tle longer at least. I am but poorly in health ; both the 
gout and stone have been lately very pungent. But sub- 
mission to my God, gratitude to my friends, afford the 
greatest comfort to your most obliged and most affec- 
tionate, W.R." 

Who can read this excellent letter without admiring 
the piety, the fortitude, the magnanimity of this extra- 
ordinary man, this aged confessor, this veteran champion 
of Christian truth ? How dignified, how sublime, does 
Dr. Robertson appear, at the age of seventy-three, clad 
in the armour of innocence and truth ; collecting the re<- 
maining vigour of his powers, firmly resolved to stand his 
ground in the day of trial, and to perish in the conflict, 
rather than tarnish the honours of his former years, or 
to recede a tittle from that good confession to which he 
had cheerfully sacrificed all his temporal possessions and 
prospects ! In comparison witb this Christian hero, how 
mean, how contemptible do his persecutors appear, in- 
sidiously and maliciously plotting in their dark cabals to 
deprive an old man of his bread, and to consign him to 
the horrors of a gaol! And why ? Was it because he had 
offended against the laws of eternal justice and commit- 



128 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. Vti 



ted crimes worthy of bonds and imprisonment? Was 
Dr. Robertson a bad neighbour, a faithless friend, a dis- 
honest citizen, a disloyal subject ? This was not even pre- 
tended. , What was it then that provoked the zeal, that 
roused the malignant passions of these holy inquisitors? 
It was this : that Dr. Robertson professed himself a wor- 
shiper of the Father only ; of that Being whom Jesus 
worshiped, and of whom he speaks as his Father and our 
Father, as his God and our God. For the sake of this 
object, he had quitted his situation and all his hopes and 
prospects in a church, where this pure primitive worship 
was not allowed, and had cast himself and a large family 
upon the wide world to seek their bread, without any 
friend but a good conscience, and without any patronage 
or protection but that of divine Providence. His enemies 
(( could find nothing against him, except it were touch- 
ing the law of his God." The crime charged upon 
this venerable confessor was the same which was alleged 
against the apostle before him ; i( after the way which 
they called heresy, so did he worship the God of his fa- 
thers." O Persecution, what a hideous fiend art thou 
in every shape, in every place, and in every age ! But 
never, surely, more hideous, more disgusting, nor more 
contemptible, than when enlisted in the service of men 
calling themselves Christians, to fasten thy venomous 
fangs upon such a character as Dr. Robertson. 

Happily, in this case the success of the enterprise did 
not correspond with the malignity of the purpose. A 
flourishing school of Papists subsisted in the neighbour- 
hood, zealously patronized by the lord of the domain, 
the same nobleman who being chairman to the bench of 
Westminster justices demurred to register Mr. Lindsey's 
chapel, Lord Dudley and Ward ; and bigotry herself did 
not think it decent to prosecute a Protestant clergyman 
for keeping a school, while a popish seminary was left 



CH. VI.] REVEREND TIIEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 129 

unmolested. Happily the danger of such persecutions 
is now passed ; and in this enlightened age, and in this 
tolerant reign, both Protestants and Catholics are pro- 
tected by law in the exercise of that indefeasible right, 
that primary duty of parents to educate their children in 
the principles and habits which they judge to be most 
conducive to their virtue and happiness. But now let 
this excellent man tell his own story in his letter to Mr. 
Lindsey, dated April 27, 1/78: 

" I congratulate you most heartily upon getting again 
into your chapel. But I hope you have too much pru- 
dence to go to dwell in the house till it gets the next 
summer's seasoning at least. My friend Mrs. Abernethy 
tells me she has got a seat in the chapel, and invites me 
to sit there. But you invite me to a higher station. 
It is possible I may accept of both. This day was our 
visitation, to which I was cited. I expected articles would 
have been exhibited against me, but none appeared. 
Our Official very civilly invited me to dine with him, and 
placed me next himself. I asked him if he had heard 
any thing of the design against me that was whispered 
about. He made no direct answer to my question,, but 
said I might be quite easy in that respect. There is a 
popish school set up in our town within this half year, 
— but one of much greater importance within two miles 
of us, kept in a house in which the Lords Dudley resided, 
and was set up by the late lord, whose lady was suspected 
of popery, for that purpose. This school is supported 
by large contributions from Catholics both at home and 
abroad, and contains now one hundred and fifty scholars, 
who are taught, and most of them clothed and fed, gratis. 
Now I find that a prosecution could not be carried on 
with any decency against me, without obliging the same 
persons to prosecute the masters and supporters of the 
popish school upon the same principles, and this design 

K 



130 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VI. 



they know would meet with all possible discouragement 
from the ruling powers. Therefore, under the protec- 
tion of popery, wonderful event ! I find myself safe. It 
was the profound policy of the counsellors of James II. 
to grant an universal toleration to all dissenters from the 
established church, amongst whom were included the 
Papists, and thus popery became tolerated at least, and 
highly encouraged. Protestant dissenters are more the 
objects of popish persecution than the established epi- 
scopalians. But though the devil shows sometimes as an 
angel of light, yet he is a devil still, and only puts on that 
appearance that he may the more effectually deceive, and 
in the end more surely destroy 



* This expression may be thought harsh, and to savour of a persecuting 
spirit, in one who was himself at that very time threatened with persecu- 
tion. But let it be recollected, that the venerable septuagenarian was born 
in the reign of the last of the Stuarts, who earnestly sought to set aside the 
Act of Succession and to introduce a popish successor. And through the 
reigns of the two first princes of the House of Hanover the Papists were 
regarded, and as a body justly, as enemies to the family upon the throne, 
and decided partisans of a popish pretender ; and were, therefore, properly 
considered by the friends of civil and religious liberty as political enemies - T 
who, if they gained the ascendency, would subvert the government and re- 
ligion of the country, and introduce popery, tyranny, and persecution. The 
state of things is now materially changed. The Pretender's family is ex- 
tinct ; and the present generation of English Catholics are as good and loyal 
subjects as the Protestants, and equally entitled to civil rights and to reli- 
gious liberty. And though popery, as a system of faith and an enormous 
corruption of Christianity, ought still to to be attacked by every argument 
of reason and scripture, the professors of that corrupt religion ought not to 
be laid under political restraint. Many of the Catholics themselves have 
learned in the school of adversity the true principles of religious liberty. 
And the Christian petition for universal religious freedom, originating with 
ihat eminent patriot and clergyman of the established church the Reverend 
Christopher VVyvilJ,- presented to Parliament in June 1810, and ably sup- 
ported by Samuel Whitbread, Esq. and W. Smith, Esq. was signed not only 
"by Protestants of all denominations, but by many gentlemen of distinction 
among the Catholics. Popery, as a political system, is no longer an object 
of terror. Babylon the great is fallen. In this event the professors of ra- 
tional Christianity must rejoice, and the friends of civil and religious liberty 
must share in the triumph. But this is a very different thing from insulting 
the individuals of the catholic persuasion. And nothing, surely, can be more 
ungenerous than rejoicing in the calamities of the aged and respectable 
pontiff; who is now (1812) a victim to a merciless tyranny. We exult in 
the fall of an anticliristian domination ; but we pity the sufferings of the 
man, and execrate the cruelty of the oppressor. 



€H. VI.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LlNDSEY. 



131 



In September 1783 a society was instituted "for pro- 
moting the knowledge of the Scriptures." The meet- 
ings were held at Essex-house. Among the original 
members of the society were Mr. Lindsey, Dr. Disney, 
who accepted the office of Secretary, Dr. Jebb, Dr. Kippis, 
Dr. Price, Dr. Calder, Mr. Dodson, Mr. Lee, &c. in 
London ; and in the country, Mr. Tayleur of Shrewsbury, 
who generously remitted 100/. to the society for imme- 
diate use, and entered himself as a subscriber of five gui- 
neas annually ; Mr. Shore, and Mr. Newton of Norton, 
Mr. Turner, Dr. Priestley, Dr. Toulmin, Dr. Law, bishop 
of Carlisle, and others, in all about thirty or forty mem- 
bers. The society limited its object to the illustration 
of the Scriptures, and declined all tracts which were 
wholly controversial, or which were formal defences or 
confutations of specific doctrines. A very able sketch 
of the society's plan was drawn up by Dr. Jebb, in which 
he states and illustrates what he calls the analytic plan 
of interpretation which the society proposed to pursue 
and to recommend, viz. Having selected a passage of 
scripture for the purpose of illustration, to begin with 
discussing preliminary questions relating to the con-* 
nexion, &c. These being settled, the judicious inter- 
preter is to proceed., by settling the text by a comparison 
of various readings ; by accurate translation, division, and 
punctuation ; by a concise, well-digested commentary ; 
by notes philological and explanatory ; and finally, by 
adding doctrinal and moral conclusions. This, which 
is unquestionably a most excellent plan of interpretation* 
was laid down as a general rule, without meaning to re- 
quire from their correspondents a rigid conformity to it, 
or to any other specific model ; but to admit any com- 
munication which tended to the advancement of scriptural 
knowledge. 

This society did not flourish in the degree nor to the 



132 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VJ, 



extent of the desires and expectations of its learned and 
benevolent founders*. Its members were never nume- 
rous, and they were very sparing in their contributions: 
the plan was too circumscribed, and interfered too much 
with the larger, the more comprehensive, and more useful 
plan of the Theological Repository, at that time resumed 
by Dr. Priestley : and after languishing a few years, it 
was altogether given up. Not, however, without be- 
queathing a valuable legacy to the theological student, 
consisting of two volumes of Commentaries and Essays. 
Among these are a curious dissertation of Mr. Lindsey's 
upon John xiv. 1 — 3 ; and a gleaning of remarks on Mr. 
Travis's attempt to revive the exploded text of 1 John v. 7 . 
A translation with notes, by Mr. Dodson, of the twelve 
first chapters of Isaiah, and likewise of the fifty-second 
and fifty- third chapters, which were all afterwards repub- 
lished by that learned writer in a complete translation 
of the whole book, with notes. Another communication 
was added by Mr. Dodson in the second volume, in the 
form of a letter to Mr. Evanson, in defence of his hypo- 
thesis concerning the spuriousness of the gospels of Mat- 
thew, Mark, and John. Also two inestimable dissertations 
of the Rev. Robert Tyrwhitt, one upon the " Creation 
of all things by Jesus Christ," and the other upon the 
"Resurrection of the dead through the Man Jesus Christ." 
The bulk of the second volume is made up of remarks, 
many of them very ingenious, upon select passages in the 
Old Testament, by the late Rev. Henry More, of Leskiard 
in Cornwall. 



* " This circular letter which our secretary sends," says Mr. Lindsey in 
a letter to Mr. Turner, dated December 5, 1785, "will but tGO much prove 
that our society does not flourish at present. Not that we receive no con- 
tributions to it ; but unless they have something original in them, and are 
ingenious, it would not answer our design to give them admission. You 
have well earned your dismission from such labours, though we cannot but 
lament it." 



€H. Vir.j REVEREND THEOFHILUS LINDSEY. 133 

CHAPTER VII. 

CONTROVERSY WITH ROBERT ROBINSON. ANALYSIS OF 
THE VINDICIiE PRIESTLEYANiE. MISUNDERSTANDING 
AND RECONCILIATION WITH DR. RICHARD PRICE. 

In the beginning of the year 1776 the late celebrated 
Robert Robinson, minister of a Baptist congregation at 
Cambridge, published a book entitled " A Plea for the 
Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ." This treatise, writ- 
ten with great ingenuity, and which breathes throughout 
a most amiable spirit of candour, is considered by many 
as one of the most plausible and imposing defences of 
the popular doctrine concerning the person of Christ 
which ever issued from the press. So far indeed as 
argument is concerned, it is egregiously trifling, and 
contains a sort of defence of the deity of the Son of God 
which the learned Trinitarians, the Bulls and Waterlands 
of a former age, would have blushed to avow. It con- 
sists chiefly of a collection of texts arranged under dif- 
ferent heads as suited the author's purpose, without any 
inquiry into their genuineness, without any attention to 
the connexion, and even without any attempt to ascer- 
tain the correctness of the translation. These texts so 
arranged, the worthy author commented upon and ex- 
plained agreeably to his own preconceived opinions, and 
with all the confidence of inspiration itself. He even 
goes so far as to denounce Jesus and his apostles as 
ct idiots and impostors," if they intended any other mean- 
ing than what he was pleased to annex to their language*. 

* " Notwithstanding so many reasons for precision, Jesus Christ declares, 
All things that the Father hath are mine, a very dangerous proposition if he 
were not God." Robinson's Plea, p. 14. Again, p. 17 : " If they who ascribe 
the perfections of deity to Jesus Christ have fallen into an error, they 
have been led into it by the writers of the New Testament. If Jesus Christ 
be God, the ascription of the perfections of God to him is proper ; if he be 
not, the apostles are chargeable with weakness or wickedness, and either 



134 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH, V1U 



This specious and dogmatical style, combined with much 
ingenuity, and wit, and eloquence, and accompanied 
with great liberality towards those who held a different 
opinion, and particularly with many expressions of 
marked respect to Mr. Lindsey and Dr. Jebb, rendered 
the treatise extremely popular, and made a considerable 
impression upon many who ought to have been better 
informed ; but who were not forward to pry with too 
curious an eye into the validity of arguments in support 
of doctrines which they dare not disbelieve. " Accord- 
ingly," says Mr. Robinson's biographer, <c a profusion 
of compliments followed the publication, as well from 
several dignitaries of the church as from the dissenters. 
Dr. Hinchcliffe, bishop of Peterborough, Dr. Hallifax, 
afterwards bishop of Gloucester, Dr. Goddard, master of 
Clare Hall, Dr. Ogden, Woodwardian professor, Dr. 
Cooke, provost of King's College, Dr. Beadon, afterwards 
bishop of Gloucester, at that time public orator, and 
Dr. Tucker, dean of Gloucester, courted his aco A uaintance. 
And it was pretty generally agreed that the Plea was the 
best defence of the divinity of Christ which had been 
published." Handsome compliments likewise were paid 

would destroy their claims to inspiration." Further, p. 18 : " Consider now 
into what contradictions these writers must fall if Jesus Christ be not God. 
They contradict one another: they contradict themselves. They degrade 
writings which they pretend are inspired, below the. lowest scribbling of the 

meanest authors." 

Such is the censure which this ingenious and well-meaning but mistaken 
writer passes upon Jesus and his apostles if they did not mean to teach the 
doctrine which he imputes to them, not a suspicion of which ever entered 
into their imaginations, not a single trace of which is to be discovered in 
their discourses or in their writings ; and from the very idea of which they 
would have recoiled with horror. 

" The few who examine and decide for themselves," says Mr. Lindsey, 
" are not to be dazzltd and overawed by these confident declarations, know- 
ing that mortals are oftentimes most ignorant where they are most presump- 
tuous and assured. But it is not so with others ; especially if their pre- 
judices lean that way already. Such violent language overpowers them be- 
fore they are aware of it, and puts an end to all cool and fair inquiry, so that 
they will hear no reason from those of a contrary sentiment : and it will be 
well if even their resentments are not instantly kindled against them." 
Exam, of Robinson's Plea, p. 4. 



CH. VII. J REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 



135 



to the author by ministers of his own persuasion, par- 
ticularly Dr. Stennet, Dr. Evans, Daniel Turner, and 
several others of the moderate Calvinists. The Rev. 
Josiah Thompson, late of Clapham, in particular, writes, 
"I have read your Plea with singular pleasure, but not 
more than I expected from it. Every thing you write 
never fails to entertain and delight me." This good 
man showed the Plea to Dr. Furneaux and Dr. Kippis; 
but though these learned and judicious divines express 
themselves in handsome and becoming terms of the 
author's superior abilities, and his great talents for ori- 
ginal composition, they understood the controversy too 
well to pay any compliment to his argument*.' 

Of the admirers of this celebrated Defence of the Di- 
vinity of Christ, though not in the number of Mr. Ro- 
binson's correspondents, the learned Archdeacon Black- 
burne is one of the most conspicuous. This eminent 
divine, who, it is plain, had paid more attention to the 
subject of Christian liberty than of theological contro- 
versy, thought but slightly of the arguments contained 
in Mr. Lindsey s Apology ; and at the same time, he 
had too much good sense to be satisfied with the super- 
ficial replies of Burgh and Randolph. But after he had 
read Mr. Robinson's pamphlet, which he did not see till 
it came to a second edition, the good archdeacon, in the 
warmth of his zeal, began to think that the controversy 
was by this unanswerable work completely settled, that 
Unitarianism was now silenced for ever, and that all her 
learned advocates were humbled in the dust by " the 
sling and the stone" of this new champion of the ortho- 
dox faith. But let the worthy dignitary speak for himself, 

In a tract written in the year 1782, and printed in an 
Appendix to the Memoir of his Life, (prefixed to an 



* See Dyer's Life of Robert Robinson, p. 109. 



136 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VII, 



edition of the Archdeacon's Works in seven volumes, in 
the year 1 804, published by his son, the Reverend Francis 
Blackburne,) entitled an Answer to the Question, " Why 
are you not a Socinian ?" Mr. Blackburne expresses him- 
self thus : " When Mr. Lindsey's Apology came out I 
read it, and thought some things in it well enough. In 
other passages he seemed to me to be infirm in his proofs : 
I then read several answers to him, which, among a few 
tolerable hits, had a considerable mixture of weakness 
and absurdity. About five years ago, I know not what 
chance threw in my way a pamphlet entitled A Plea for 
the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. I perused this 
pamphlet with care and attention, and was both surprised 
and concerned to find so many of my friend Lindsey's 
arguments and positions totally subverted, a fundamen- 
tis, provided the pleadings, reasonings, and authorities 
were well-grounded. To prove this to myself I consulted 
a number of the texts he had cited, and found his su- 
perstructure bottomed upon a rock. It is now six years 
since this pamphlet was first published. I have looked 
in every newspaper, review, magazine, &c. I met with, 
and could never find an answer to it either from Mr. 
Lindsey, Dr. Jebb, Dr. Priestley, or even Mr. Evanson, 
who I think is one of the best writers among the Soci- 
nians, either ancient or modern. Indeed, so far as con- 
cerns the Socinians, I think it unanswerable 

Such was the judgement of the venerable Archdeacon 
of Cleveland ; and in this judgement he was supported 

* Whether the archdeacon was ever convinced of the futility of the argu- 
ments of the " Plea ' by that forcible train of reasoning which converted the 
candid author himself, does not appear. His worthy biographer concludes 
the contrary. It appears, says he, that in the year 1785 an Examination of 
Mr. Robinson's Plea was published by the Rev. T. Lindsey, but without a 
name, and by him presented to Mr. Blackburne. We have not however 
been able to discover that the archdeacon's sentiments of Mr. Robinson's 
work underwent any change, as he recommended the serious perusal of it 
to some young clergymen, a very few weeks before his death. Blackburne's 
Works, vol. i. Memoir, p. cxxvi. 



QH. VII.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 



137 



by the multitude, who always find it to be less trouble 
to take a doctrine upon trust than to examine its evi- 
dence with care. Thus was this spirited assailant for 
many years left master of the field, and his work not 
being answered was of course reckoned unanswerable. 

In the mean time the Unitarian divines were not neg- 
ligent of what was passing, nor inattentive to the tem- 
porary triumph of orthodoxy in one of the chief seats 
of science and learning. Mr. Lindsey and Dr. Jebb were 
the principal persons whose writings were attacked in 
this popular publication ; and the author with much good 
nature had sent to each of those gentlemen a copy of his 
work, accompanied with letters professing his high re- 
gard for their talents, their learning, and their character, 
and apologizing for any expression which might through 
inadvertency have dropped from his pen, and which was 
capable of being construed into personal disrespect. 
Courteous answers were of course returned *. But nei- 
ther of the gentlemen so addressed entertained at that 
time any thoughts of writing a confutation of the Plea ; 
Dr. Jebb being fully engaged in preparing for the new 
profession to which his views were then directed, and 
Mr. Lindsey being always averse to personal controversy, 
and neither of them regarding this superficial attack as 
deserving of a serious reply. 

The 4 6 Plea," however, excited greater attention, and 
made a deeper impression than these gentlemen expect- 
ed, and than its intrinsic merits deserved, and it soon 
became apparent that a reply of some kind was advisa- 
ble. Mr. Lindsey, conceiving that, as the author resided 
at Cambridge, an answer to his work would come with 
the best effect from <c that famous seat of learning," in- 
quired from time to time of some of his literary and the- 



* Dyer's Life of Robinson, p. 116. 



138 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH, VII, 



ological friends at the university whether any notice was 
likely to be taken from the press of this new " Plea," 
which for a time had so much vogue. All however that 
he could learn was, " that it was looked upon as so very 
superficial, and had so little argument in it, that it could 
not long deceive anyone, and needed no confutation*." 

Mr. Lindsey's learned friends probably thought, and 
indeed justly, that his own writings having been the prin- 
cipal object of attack in the " Plea," it was more parti- 
cularly incumbent upon him to draw up a reply ; and 
they knew that they could rely with confidence upon his 
prudence, his learning, his zeal, and his moderation. 
Mr. Lindsey himself, perhaps, was conscious that the 
task properly devolved upon him ; and his sense of duty, 
and zeal for the cause which was, as he thought, so pe- 
tulantly and dogmatically impugned, overcame his na- 
tural aversion to personal controversy, and determined 
him at length to put on the harness and to enter the 
lists with his courteous but presuming opponent, and in 
the year 1785 he published,, anonymously, " An Exami- 



* Examination of Robinson's Plea, p. 3. A brief account of the origin of 
this publication is contained in the following extract from a letter to Mr. 
Cappe, dated early in the year 1785, in which Mr. Lindsey requests Mr. 
Cappe to apply to Dr. Leechman, the principal of the university of Glasgow, 
for some authentic account of Professor Hutcheson. 

" Did you ever read Mr. Robinson, minister of Cambridge's Plea for the 
Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, printed first in 1776, which has under- 
gone three editions ? Mr. Archdeacon Blackburne has often asked me, in 
triumph, how we could go on in Essex-street without confuting this work? 
It is also much commended by several dignitaries in the church ; and held 
as gospel very generally among dissenters. I have been formerly and often 
pressed to take some notice of it. I asked the Cambridge men at the time 
and since, but they declined. Very much importuned by some persons 
lately, I have undertaken it, and am actually in the press. Unless I put 
my name to the work, about which I am not decided, not loving to appear 
in controversy, the title will be," &c. In another letter to the same friend, 
dated the 25th of February, he says, "I often wonder at myself, and am 
often not a little drooping, to think how I should venture on the public, when 
certain persons, so much more able and capable, are silent. But then it 
recurs, that it is fit something should be opposed to such triumphant non- 
sense and declamation, which seems well received because many know no 
better." 



CH. VII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



139 



nation of Mr. Robinson of Cambridge's Plea for the Di- 
vinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, by a late Member of the 
University." 

In his preface, Mr. Lindsey remarks, that " the Au- 
thor here examined has seldom given himself the trouble 
of doing any thing more than barely to bring together 
texts of Scripture, without explaining them, or even 
showing how they apply to his purpose in proving Jesus 
Christ to be truly and properly God ; presuming that it 
would be taken for granted, at sight and upon his au- 
thority, that they prove the point for which he assigned 
them ; so that the title of this tract of mine might with 
very great propriety have been, ' An Explanation of all 
the Texts of Scripture produced by Mr. Robinson in 
proof of the Divinity of Jesus Christ.' How far it may 
afford any thing new or useful the reader will judge." 

The learned writer, in his Examination of the Plea, 
pursues Mr. Robinson's method, and examines and sifts 
his popular opponent's defence of the divinity of Christ 
argument by argument, and text by text. Accordingly, 
he inquires in order, whether the sacred writers speak of 
God in peculiar appropriated terms, — whether Jesus 
Christ is the Supreme God,— whether the same titles 
are given to Christ in the Christian Scriptures which are 
given to God in the Jewish Scriptures, — whether the 
perfections which are ascribed to Christ are the same 
with those which are ascribed to the Supreme God, — 
whether the like worship is given, or commanded to be 
given, in the Scriptures to Jesus Christ as to Almighty 
God, — whether there be any passages in the Old Testa- 
ment, and applied to Jesus Christ in the New, which 
prove Jesus Christ to be Jehovah the Supreme God, — 
whether the Scriptures which foretell the destruction of 
idolatry by the Gospel have not been fulfilled, although 
Jesus Christ be wrongly worshiped as God, — whether, 



140 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VII. 



if Jesus Christ be not the Supreme God, Mahomet has 
written more clearly on the nature of Jesus Christ than 
the Apostles have, — whether numberless passages of 
Scripture have no sense, or a very absurd one, if Jesus 
Christ be a mere man, — and, finally, what is the source 
of men's erroneous opinions concerning the person of 
Christ, according to the author of the " Plea." After 
having with great ability and learning discussed these 
important questions, explained and illustrated the several 
texts, confuted his opponent's arguments, and occasion- 
ally animadverted with a warmth and severity more than 
was usual with him upon the presumption, the ignorance, 
and the dogmatical spirit of the writer, and particularly 
upon his unbecoming abuse of the sacred writers if their 
meaning is different from what he chooses to represent, 
Mr. Lindsey concludes his treatise with some pertinent 
observations upon the inattention of the author of the 
" Plea" to those numerous passages of Scripture which 
in direct terms exclude Christ and every other person 
from all pretensions to deity, — on the general tenor of 
the Scriptures, from which no man of plain understand- 
ing would ever suspect more gods than one to be therein 
revealed, — and on the great injury which is done to true 
religion and the gospel by such representations of it. 

The success of this Examination was complete. From 
the time that it was published no person who had the 
least pretension to Biblical learning was heard to open 
his lips in defence of this famous Plea for the Divinity 
of Christ ; not a syllable was written in confutation of 
the Reply. Those who would not retract were at least 
compelled to be silent; and it seemed to be universally 
conceded, that if the divinity of Christ was to be defend- 
ed at all, it must be upon a very different ground from 
that which was occupied by this much vaunted perform* 
ance. 



CH. Vir.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 141 

The impression made by the Examination upon the 
ingenuous mind of the author of the Plea was very con- 
siderable. Mr. Robinson was stung to the quick by the 
grave, and, as his conscience must have testified, the not 
unmerited rebuke of his unknown opponent. His friends 
urged him, his opponents challenged him, to stand upon 
his defence, or to fulfill his promise, — that "if ever he 
discovered his deception he would retract his error." He 
resolved, however, to keep a prudent silence. " I do not 
intend," says he, in a letter to a friend, fc to answer the 
anonymous examiner. He hath not touched my argu- 
ments ; and his spirit is bitter and contemptuous. His 
faith stands on criticisms ; and my argument is, that if 
the doctrine required critical proof, it is not popular, and 
therefore not divine. Yes, they will have the last word, 
and let them*." This amiable man, however, soon re- 

* See Dyer's Life of Robinson, p. 1 13. It is said to have been a favourite 
maxim of this extraordinary man at one time of his life, " Criticism is a 
good thing in its place • but woe to the system which depends upon it I" 
And from this it has been weakly inferred by some of Mr. Robinson's ad- 
mirers, whose zeal exceeded their knowledge, that a doctrine supported by 
criticism must be erroneous, because, forsooth, the common people could 
not understand it. These wise men, it seems, are not aware that the main 
object of Scripture criticism is to discover the sense which would be most 
obvious to those for whose immediate use the Scriptures were written, which 
must no doubt be the true sense, however contrary to modern ideas and pre- 
judices. That Mr. Robinson was not serious in this sarcastic reflection upon 
criticism, or that he afterwards thought more rationally upon the subject, 
is evident from the following extract of a letter to a friend : 

" I have remarked only a few of the many ministers who are sincerely 
studying the New Testament, the four gospels I mean. I want a man who 
vindicates the book, and ascertains the fact, that the history of the incarna- 
tion is not an addition ; and this, by sober just criticism. I do not "tvant au- 
thorities of great names ; I want reasons to convince my understanding, — 
I want one who gives me the genuine doctrine of the four gospels, before 
the epistles were written ; a man as familiar with Palestine as with his own 
country. I do not want a quoter of teah and a packer of ecclesiastical n ews , 
1 want a good sound logician, who knows how to reason, and who is no 
novice, — a cool, deliberate, honest disciple of Jesus, who pauses and weighs, 
and admits the refining fire of inquiry to burn freely." Speaking of Mr. 
Winchester, who taught the doctrine of universal salvation, he says of his 
opponents : "They preach and print against him. They pretend that God 
is of their temper, and -will not bate a day of eternity. They -never knew 
what criticism ibits ; and they do nothing but chaunt for ever, and for ever, 
and for ever. Poor honies ! Servants who know not what their Lord doeth." 
Dyer's Life of Robinson, p. 287. 2S9, " 



142 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VII* 



covered the tenor of his mind ; and wisely profiting bv 
rebuke, he paid greater attention to the important ques- 
tion, not disdaining to call in the aid of sober and just 
criticism, and in a short time reformed his opinion and 
became decidedly anti-trinitarian. This is a known fact. 
I shall mention but one proof of it. In a letter to a friend, 
dated March 4, 1789, speaking of an aged minister who 
had applied for relief to the Baptist-board, he says : " In- 
stead of sending him charity they sent him faith, and 
informed him that they had made a law not to relieve 
any except they subscribed a creed, a human creed which 
they sent him ; and the first article of which is : There 
are three divine persons in the Unity of the godhead ! 
Absolute nonsense ! supported by tyranny over men's 
consciences 

It is not quite clear to what distance from the stand- 
ard of orthodoxy this ingenuous and inquisitive man 
carried his speculations upon the subject of the person 
of Christ. " For many years," says one of Mr. Robin- 
son's family and congregation in a letter to Dr. Priestley, 
dated three days after his decease, " but especially for 
the last two or three of his life, he taught the doctrine 
of the unity of the great Cause of all things expressly and 
effectually." He had promised himself much pleasure 
from an interview with Dr. Priestley ; and in a letter 
addressed to Dr. Priestley a few weeks before the in- 
terview, and the only one which Mr. Robinson ever 
wrote to him, he says : "I am indebted to you for the 
little I know of rational defensible Christianity. But for 
your friendly aid I fear I should have gone from enthu- 
siasm to deism : but a faith founded on evidence rests 
upon a rock." In the admirable sermon which Dr. 
Priestley preached and published on the melancholy oc- 
casion of the sudden death of this excellent man, the 

~— ; ■ ■ i i - . > • — "* 

* Dyers Life of Robinson, p. 300, 301. 



CH. VII.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 



143 



author expatiating upon the character of his deceased 
friend justly remarks, that "what most of all distin- 
guished Mr. Robinson was his earnest love of truth, and 
his laborious search after it. Notwithstanding his long 
attachment to the doctrine of the Trinity, yet continuing 
to read and think on the subject, he came at length to 
change his opinion, and before he died he was one of the 
most zealous Unitarians. The subject of the Divine 
Unity was ever uppermost in his mind, and he urged it 
not only in season, but, as you would observe, out of 
season. Such also was his power of persuasion, such 
the excellence of his character and the just esteem in 
which he was held, that in time his congregation came 
almost universally to embrace his opinions, as I was my- 
self informed about a year ago, by one of them who had 
himself 3 * been a Trinitarian, but who was then a Unita- 
rian." Dr. Priestley in a letter to a friend, expressing 
his delight in Mr. Robinson's conversation and his dis- 
appointment in his preaching, says, Ci His discourse was 
unconnected and desultory, and his manner of treating 
the Trinity savoured rather of burlesque than serious 
reasoning. He attacked orthodoxy more pointedly and 
sarcastically than I ever did in my life!." 

Upon the whole, it is evident that Dr. Priestley and 
his friends regarded Mr. Robinson as decidedly an Uni- 
tarian in the sense in which Dr. Priestley always used the 
word, that is, as a believer in the simple humanity of 
Jesus Christ. And there can be no doubt that these 
were the sentiments which he expressed in his last visit 
&t Birmingham. Nor does it appear that Mr. Robinson 
was ever inclined to the Arian hypothesis concerning the 



* Dr. Priestley's Sermon on the Death of the Rev. R. Robinson, p. 20-21 . 
This excellent man was found dead in his bed on Wednesday morning, June 
9, 1790, after having preached twice at Birmingham the Lord's day before. 

f Dyer's Life of Robinson, p. 397- 



144 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. VII, 

person of Christ. His plea for the divinity of Jesus 
Christ is framed more upon the Sabellian than the high 
Arian scheme ; and he tells Dr. Jebb, in a letter written 
at the time of its first publication, " It is not impossible 
that our sentiments, much as they seem to differ, may, 
after all, differ less than they appear to do*." And in 
this very treatise he scouts the Arian doctrine as utterly 
unscriptural and inadmissible f. 

It is however certain, that Dr. Priestley must have been 
misinformed with respect to the state of Mr. Robinson's 
congregation ; for, though many of them had become 
decided Unitarians, many, and perhaps the majority, 
thought differently. And this mixture of jarring and 
inconsistent opinions in a religious society is always to be 
expected where the eloquence of the speaker, and not the 

* Dyer's Life of Robinson, p. 118. 

•f In reply to the proposition which he puts into the mouth of a supposed 
opponent, " that God may enable an inferior being to create a world ; that 
Jesus Christ is such a delegated God he answers, " My concern is not 
with what God may do, but with what he declares he has done. I am Je- 

HOVAH, AND THERE IS NO GoD BESIDES ME. I AM GoD, AND THERE IS 
NONE LIKE ME. Yea, THERE IS NO GoD, 1 KNOW NOT ANY. This is the 

God of my Bible. But besides this God there is in my proposition another 
God, a delegated God. Here are two Gods. Here is a supreme God, and 
a subordinate God ; a natural God, and an artificial God ; a great God, and 
a little God. A Philosopher has one God, a Jew has one God, but a Chris- 
tian it seems has two Gods. What a world of difficulties belong to this 
proposition ! Is this delegated God entitled to worship ? The idea of a 
God without a title to religious worship is an idea inadmissible. Is all wor- 
ship to be paid to the subordinate God, or does the supreme God claim any ? 
Which acts of devotion belong to the one, and which to the other ? A mis- 
take would be dangerous, and I have no guide. Every inspired writer for- 
.sakes me. Jesus Christ, it seems, created all things in heaven and earth ; 
and a Creator, it seems, proves by creating his eternal power and godhead. 
The proposition says, God may empower a creature to create. Perhaps he 
may : but God declares he hath not done so. Hast thou not heard that the 
Lord, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faint eth not, &e. 
I am then obliged to reject the notion of a subordinate God, a delegated 
Creator, and to admit that the living and true God united himself to the 
man Jesus." Robinson's Plea, p. 66--6S. 

It seems very improbable, that a person who argues so forcibly and un- 
answerably against the Arian hypothesis should himself soon afterwards be- 
come an Arian. The natural, process of such a mind, after discarding the 
divinity of Christ, would be to adopt that of his simple humanity. Such 
was the progress of Mr. Lindsey's reflections, and such probably was that 
of Robert Robinson. 



CH. VII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 145 

truth of principles, is the bond of union. The advocates 
of Mr. Robinson's expiring orthodoxy maintain that he 
never did in the pulpit directly avow the doctrine of the 
mere humanity of Jesus Christ ; and that, if he professed 
this opinion at Birmingham either in the pulpit or in the 
parlour, it is to be recollected that at that time he la- 
boured under great infirmity both of body and mind ; 
and that of this he was himself so very sensible, that to 
a person who was then introduced to him he made the 
affecting declaration, " You are only come to see the 
shadow of Robert Robinson*." It is argued therefore, 
and with some degree of plausibility, that, in this debi- 
litated state of health and intellect, it is not easy to col- 
lect the last deliberate result of the calm judgement and 
mature reflection of his better days. It is however said 
that Mr. Robinson had avowed Unitarian principles in 
conversation before his constitution was impaired: at 
the same time he might not be so far confirmed in these 
principles, or think them of such great importance, as 
to feel it to be his duty explicitly to avow and to defend 
them before a mixed assembly of persons holding a great 
diversity of sentiments. 

Dr. Priestley, in his Defences of Unitarianism for the 
year 1786, having taken occasion, from his controversy 
with Dr. Home, then dean of Canterbury and president 
of Magdalen College Oxford, afterwards bishop of Nor- 
wich, to address a series of letters to the young men who 
are in a course of education at the Universities of Oxford 
and Cambridge, upon subscription to articles, the doc- 
trine of the Trinity, and on the difficulties attending an 
open acknowledgement of the truth, a smart letter in 
reply to Dr. Priestley was published under the signature 



* Dyer's Life of Robinson, p. 397- 
L 



146 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH* Vlt. 

of an Undergraduate, which was however soon discovered 
to have proceeded from the pen of the worthy President 
of Magdalen. To this letter the learned champion of 
the Unitarian faith made a very suitable and spirited 
answer in his Defences of Unitarianism for the succeed- 
ing year, under the impression that the pamphlet had 
been really written by a youth of the lowest form in the 
University. But Dr. Home, though a good-natured 
man, and upon the whole a candid disputant, had oc- 
casionally followed the illiberal practice introduced by 
those controversial bravos, who having first entered 
the lists with Dr. Priestley, soon discovered that it was 
by much the easiest and shortest method of dealing with 
their formidable antagonist to assume a lofty and super- 
cilious air, and to arraign his literary character, instead 
of disproving his stubborn facts, and refuting his potent 
arguments. In this crisis Mr. Lindsey generously stood 
forward in defence of his insulted friend; and in the 
year 1788 he published a volume entitled "Vindicite 
Priestleianse, an Address to the Students at Oxford and 
Cambridge, occasioned by a Letter to Dr. Priestley from 
a Person calling himself an Undergraduate, &e." " The 
idea of drawing up this tract first arose," as he informs 
his readers in the preface, " from observing a studied af- 
fectation in many persons of treating Dr. Priestley's the- 
ological and metaphysical writings with slight and con- 
tempt, and an endeavour in others particularly to infuse 
the like sentiments of him in the rising generation. 

" I had no view therein," continues Mr. Lindsey, " was 
I capable of it, of lending him any aid against the attacks 
made upon him, as if he were in danger of being over- 
powered by his opponents. For he is more than equal 
to a whole host of them, which they have all experienced 
in their turns; Bishop Horsley, one of the most violent 
of them, the least of all excepted. But 1 thought it might 



CH. VII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 147 

be possible for another to suggest some circumstances, 
and to say certain things in his behalf, which he would 
never think of offering, and which indeed could not so 
properly come from himself, by which the edge of pre- 
judice might be taken off, and a juster estimate formed 
of him and his writings." 

In the progress of the work the learned author vindi- 
cates Dr. Priestley's conduct in addressing his letters to 
the youth of the two universities, and represents sub- 
scription to articles and creeds as a grievance which had 
long been complained of. He enters at large into the 
defence of his friend's character as a philosopher and a 
theologian. In the department of philosophy he intro- 
duces a very high encomium upon him by Mr. Kirwan, 
the late venerable and learned president of the Royal 
Society of Ireland, drawn up in the year 1787, of which 
I shall take leave to transcribe an extract. 

" To enumerate Dr. Priestley's discoveries," says this 
eminent philosopher, " would be to enter into a detail of 
most of those that have been made within the last fifteen 
years. How many invisible fluids whose existence evaded 
the sagacity of foregoing ages has he made known to us ! 
To him pharmacy is indebted for the method of making 
artificial mineral waters, as well as for a shorter method of 
preparing other medicines ; metallurgy, for more power- 
ful and cheaper solvents ; and chemistry, for such a va- 
riety of discoveries as it would be tedious to recite : dis- 
coveries which have new modelled that science, and drawn 
4o it and to this country the attention of all Europe." 

Mr. Lindsey adds, " that Dr. Priestley's genius is 
equal to all subjects ; that he is remarkable for selecting 
only the strongest and most suitable arguments, and ap- 
plying and arranging them with exquisite method and 
simplicity, and seldom to fail to work conviction in the 
unprejudiced mind." 

12 



148 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VII. 



He then proceeds to vindicate a declaration of Dr. 
Priestley's in his debate with Dr. Price, that he could 
not pretend to say when his creed would be fixed ; a 
declaration which the soi-disant undergraduate affects to 
ridicule, but which Mr. Lindsey plainly proves to be a 
truly just and philosophic maxim, and confirms by the 
testimony of Archbishop Tillotson, who mentions it to 
the commendation of his deceased friend, Dr. Whichcote, 
"that he was so wise as to be willing to learn to the last." 

The learned author next proceeds to justify Dr. Priest- 
ley's sentiments concerning the inspiration of the Scrip- 
tures, the imperfection of the Mosaic account of the fall 
of man, and the occasional inaccuracy of the apostle 
Paul's reasonings. And upon these subjects he intro- 
duces some curious extracts from a work of the celebrated 
Castellio, but little known, entitled c De arte dubitandi et 
confitendi, ignorandi et sciendi,' and which was published 
by Wetstein at the end of the second volume of his New 
Testament. " The title itself," says Mr. Lindsey, " has 
more in it to be learned than you find in many large 
books. For it is no ordinary attainment to know when to 
doubt, and when to be assured, and when to be ignorant." 

In the course of this excellent little treatise, amongst 
other pertinent observations, the learned and liberal writer 
remarks, that <c men with difficulty admit at first, what 
they have been ignorant of, however most true it be. For, 
as Christ says, those that are used to old wine do not 
immediately take to the new, though it be better. But 
We must not be discouraged in our attempts, when per- 
s uaded of the truth of what we have to offer, if we would 
in earnest serve mankind. Otherwise, if we go on in the 
same track with those who have never benefited the world, 
we shall like them be wholly useless." 

The Dean of Canterbury having in hi? undergradu- 
ate'^ letter represented Dr. Priestley's notion concerning 



CH. VII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 149 

the simple humanity of Christ to be as incredible as the 
(t stories of the Alcoran*," Mr. Lindsey remonstrates 
upon the indecorum of the remark, and shows that the 
simple humanity of Jesus is the doctrine both of the 
Hebrew and the Christian Scriptures ; and he cites a 
passage from the Last Sentiments of Pere Le Courayer, 
a work of that celebrated Catholic refugee given by the 
author to the late Princess Amelia, and bequeathed by 
her to Dr. Bell the publisher, in which that learned divine 
avows his opinion concerning the person of Christ, which 
nearly coincides with the proper Unitarian doctrine. 

This excellent man was under the necessity of leaving 
France on account of a treatise which he published in 
vindication of the validity of English episcopal ordi- 
nation. " He was a person," says Mr. Lindsey, " of re- 
markable simplicity of manners and sweetness of dispo- 
sition, and of a constant even cheerfulness, befitting the 
innocence of his life, and his well-grounded hope of ex- 
changing it for a better. I lived formerly for months 
together under the same roof with him, in a noble 
family who had been his friendly protectors from the 
time of his being forced to fly his country for his reli- 
gious opinions." This venerable man lived to the age 
of ninety-three, and continued to the end of his life in 
the communion of the Roman church f . 

In reply to the supposed undergraduate Mr. Lindsey 
further pleads, that Christ being a human person, his 
power and knowledge were necessarily limited^ and that 
Dr. Priestley is right in ascribing to him the frailties 
and moral imperfection and peccability of human nature. 
Also, that the question concerning his miraculous con- 
ception has nothing to do with his qualification for his 



* Undergraduate's Letter to Dr. Priestley, p. 25. 
f See an excellent letter from this amiable and learned ecclesiastic to 
Mr. Liadsey, Appendix, No. IX. 



150 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VII. 



office. He maintains, that Dr. Home errs widely from 
the doctrine of the New Testament, in his notions con- 
cerning the atonement and intercession of Christ. And 
he justly rebukes the worthy President of Magdalen for 
the false and invidious light in which he has represented 
Dr. Priestley's opinions concerning the nature of the 
soul and the state of the dead, which nevertheless were 
perfectly consonant to the doctrine of the holy Scrip- 
tures, and had been very zealously supported by Luther 
the great reformer, and more lately by two very learned 
dignitaries of the established church not long since de- 
ceased, viz. Dr. Law, bishop of Carlisle, and Archdeacon 
Blackburne, to both of whom he pays a tribute of de- 
served applause. The work closes with some just ani- 
madversions upon Dr. Home's fanciful interpretation of 
many passages of Scripture, and particularly of his strange 
and extravagant commentary upon the book of Psalms, 
in which he applies almost every thing to Christ which 
the writer addresses to the Supreme Being ; and a neat 
and very proper form of reply is proposed from the stu- 
dents of the University to Dr. Home. A postscript is 
added, containing a very high and justly merited cha- 
racter of Dr. Priestley's History of early Opinions con- 
cerning Christ. 

To the large account which I have already given of 
this work, I will take leave to add a short extract which 
exhibits a striking view of the feelings and character of 
the pious and benevolent author. He is remarking upon 
the sad and sombre view of the physical and moral state 
of the world, which the learned Bishop Butler exhibits 
in his celebrated Treatise upon the Analogy of Reli- 
gion, natural and revealed. Of this eminent prelate Mr. 
Lindsey had some personal knowledge ; and he speaks 
of him as a person that had great piety, but of a gloomy 
cast, and tending to superstition, which he seems to 



CH, VII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



151 



have caught from reading the lives of Romish saints. 
He always appeared dissatisfied with the public state of 
things and of the world ; which probably originated in 
the erroneous opinions which he entertained of the cha- 
racter of the divine Being, and of his governing provi- 
dence. In his Analogy he represents the world as having 
the appearance of a ruin, and that mankind, according 
to the Scriptures, are in a state of degradation*. 

Upon this Mr. Lindsey remarks, p. 253, <c Surely this 
is an exhibition of the dark side of things, giving a par- 
tial and untrue account of our present state." He adds, 
p. 254, « F ar, very far is it from being a miserable world 
that we now live in, but very much the contrary : nor, I 
apprehend, has there ever been any the least reason to 
call it so in general, however some individuals may have 
suffered much in it," 



* Mr. Lindsey occasionally met this respectable prelate at the Dutchess 
of Somerset's. The following extract from a letter written by the Bishop 
to the Dutchess soon after his promotion to the see of Durham, and which 
she transmits to Mr. Lindsey in a letter dated July 23, 1751, exhibits, as 
the noble writer expresses it, " a pleasing picture" of the bishop's mind. 

" I had a long" letter last Friday," says her grace, " from the good Bishop 
of Durham, and will transcribe a paragraph of it, as I think you will like to 
know what his thoughts are amidst the novelty of pomp which surrounds 
him. 

" ' I had a mind to see Auckland before I wrote to your grace 3 and as 
you take so kind a part in every thing which contributes to my satisfaction, 
I am sure you will be pleased to hear that the place is a very agreeable one, 
and fully answering expectations, except that one of the chief prospects, 
which is very pretty, (the river Wear with hills much diversified rising 
above it,) is too bare of wood. The park not much amiss as to that. But I 
am obliged to pale it anew all round, the old pale being quite decayed. 
This will give an opportunity, with which indeed I am much pleased, to 
take in forty or fifty acres competently wooded, though with that enlarge- 
ment it will scarce be sufficient for the hospitality of the country. These, with 
some little improvements and very great repairs, take up my leisure time. 
Thus, madam, I seem to have laid out a very long life for myself 3 yet in 
reality every thing I see puts me in mind of the shortness and uncertainty 
of it : the arms and inscriptions of my predecessors, what they did, and what 
they neglected, and, from accidental circumstances, the very place itself, 
and the rooms I walk through and sit in : and when I consider in one view 
the many things of the kind I have just mentioned which I have upon my 
hands, I feel the burlesque of being employed in this manner at my time of 
life. But in another view, and taking in all circumstances, these things, as. 



152 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. VII. 



"For my own part," says he, p. 256, " I am bound 
to say, that my condition has been most happy from the 
beginning of my existence to the present day. Happily 
preserved from great calamities, I have not been exempt 
from hardships, reverses, and sicknesses ; but the kind 
hand of Providence has been discernible in them all, 
leading to good by them. I have most particularly 
cause to speak well of those of my fellow-beings whom 
I have been acquainted with, and among wbom my lot 
has been cast ; and I would desire no better company 
for ever than those I have known, and loved, and 
esteemed, and heard, and read of, especially when di- 
vested more of all selfishness and terrene concretions, as 
Edward Search calls them, which we expect, nay, rather 
are persuaded will take place in our future progressive 
state. Indeed, was there to be no such state, and all 
was to end here, though so dark and abrupt a conclusion 
of the fair promising scene is not credible, and would be 
tvholly unaccountable, I must for my part take my leave 
and depart as a well satisfied guest : satur conviva re~ 
cederem: thankful that I had passed so many happy 
days, and lived, and seen, and experienced so much of 
the goodness of my Creator, and been favoured with the 
knowledge of so many amiable and valuable characters 



trifling as they may appear, no less than things of greater importance, 
seem to be put upon me to do, or at least to begin : whether I am to live to 
complete any or all of them, is not my concern." 

The Dutchess adds, in a style that does credit to her piety, " I thought 
this so pleasing a picture of this excellent prelate's mind, that I could not 
deny you or myself the satisfaction of sending you a copy of it. Libertines 
may lay schemes and talk as much as thev please of happiness, but it can 
only reside in the breast of the sincere humble Christian." 

It may not be amiss to add, as one proof among thousands of the vanity 
of human grandeur, or, to use Mr. Burke's memorable language, "what 
nothings we are and what nothings we pursue," that this excellent prelate 
enjoyed his splendid preferment but for a short time. He was translated to 
the see of Durham in 1750, and died at Bath of a decline in June 1/52, 
within less than a year lifter he had written the above letter, and in the 
sixtieth year of his age. 



CH. VII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



153 



among my species, though concerned to take a farewell 
for ever of the one and the other, and to know nothing 
any more." 

Mr. Lindsey having in this work connected the name 
of Dr. Price with that of Bishop Butler, p. 249, as 
having " fallen into and adhered fixedly to this gloomy 
and unscriptural doctrine, that repentance alone is not 
sufficient to restore sinful mortals to the favour of their 
Maker ;" and having, contrary to his usual moderation 
of language, ascribed this to their " not keeping strictly 
to the doctrine of Scripture concerning the Divine Unity 
and the proper humanity of Christ, there delivered in 
the clearest characters to all who come not to the read- 
ing of it under a rooted and fixed contrary persuasion 
and having in other parts of his book expressed himself 
in terms which bore rather hard upon his Arian brethren, 
this unprovoked attack drew from Dr. Price, who felt 
himself not a little hurt upon the occasion, the follow- 
ing spirited letter to Mr. Lindsey, dated Hackney, 
May 26, 1788: 

" Dear Sir, — I know not how to avoid writing to you 
a few lines to return you thanks for your book in de- 
fence of our friend Dr. Priestley. I have read it with 
pleasure, and been instructed by it. If contrary to my 
apprehensions the Socinian doctrine is true, I wish you 
success in your endeavours to propagate it ; but whether 
true or not, good must be done by all fair and candid 
discussions of it. — You have done me honour by join- 
ing me to Dr. Butler : but will you excuse me if I 
tell you that I am sorry that, in your animadversions on 
him, you have not intimated that I do not think as he 
does on the subject of worshiping Christ, and that I 
have given an account of the divine character and govern- 
ment, and human life, very different from that which 
you censure ? I am afraid that, from your not distin- 



154 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. VII. 

guishing between him and me, those who read you only 
will be led to very wrong ideas of my sentiments on these 
points, and also on the dignity of Christ, and our re- 
demption by him. 

" My convictions, generally, are only a preponderance 
on one side, attended with a feeling of difficulties ; and 
I am often ready to wish I was more assured of the 
truth of my opinions. But in forming this wish I am 
checked by reflecting, that this assurance is most enjoyed 
by those who are most in the wrong, Trinitarians, Cal- 
vinists, Papists, &c. And that were I possessed of it 
with respect to my opinion of the dignity and offices of 
Christ, I might possibly be led to a sad loss of candour 
by charging Socinians, as you do Arians, with c resist- 
ing an evidence so insurmountable that all the rational 
are seeing it every day more and more,' p. 189, and 
* so vast that every eye must see it that is not wholly 
blinded by prejudice,' p. 177. And also by saying of 
some of the ablest and best men who differ from me, 
but of whom I have every reason to believe that they 
inquire as fairly and as diligently as myself, that 1 they 
see things through a mist,' that they are * ignorant and 
gloomy,' that * they have narrow minds bound down to 
a system/ and £ have never properly searched the Scrip- 
tures to see what Christianity is.' 

" I am, Dear Sir, 

" With affectionate and sincere respect, Yours, 

" Richard Price." 

The venerable advocate of the Unitarian doctrine felt 
the justice of the rebuke, and immediately returned the 
following answer: 

" Dear Sir, — As there is no one living for whom I 
have a higher respect and esteem than yourself, I am 



CH. VII,] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 155 

proportionably concerned that you should think your- 
self at all intended or involved in what I say of Bishop 
Butler and his system. To make what reparation I 
can, if my book should ever come to a second edition, 
I will either omit your name entirely, p. 249, and I now 
wish I had done it ; or, when I publish Part II., which I 
hope to be able to do in the course of the next year, I 
will do that justice which is due to your very different 
sentiments to those of Bishop Butler. 

" For that perhaps too vaunting style in which I 
speak of Christ being purely one of the human race, 
and of no other order of beings, I make some apology 
to my young men, p. 168, and am sorry that any con- 
clusion should be drawn from it but that of speaking 
from the fullness of my ow r n mind, without the least 
thought of casting blame on those of different senti- 
ments, or impeaching their judgements or understand- 
ings.'' 

This letter gave complete satisfaction to the ingenu- 
ous and liberal mind of Dr. Price, and produced in re- 
turn the following candid reply, dated June 2, 1 ^"88 : 

" Dear Sir, — Accept my best thanks for your kind 
letter. It is extremely satisfactory to me, and leaves in 
my mind no room for any other sentiments than those 
of affection and respect which I have always entertained 
for you. If my letter discovered any degree of unreason- 
able sensibility, I hope you will forgive me. Indeed, I 
care not what strong expressions of dislike are applied to 
my opinions concerning Christ, provided they are pro- 
perly represented, and I am not understood to hold that 
he is almost equal to the Supreme God, a sentiment at 
which I shudder, and which probably no Arian now 
holds." 

Thus did these two Christian worthies of congenial 
spirits, equally lovers of truth, of virtue, of unrestrained 



156 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VII, 



freedom of inquiry, and of political and religious liberty, 
by mutual forbearance, explanation, and concession, put 
an end to the misunderstanding which for a short time 
cast a cloud upon their countenance and interrupted 
their accustomed harmony. 

Mr. Lindsey, agreeably to his promise, performed his 
amende honorable in the Introduction to his Second 
Address to the Students of Oxford and Cambridge, pub- 
lished in the year 1790, where, p. xxx. he " takes 
blame to himself for having in the former part, without 
just grounds, included Dr. Price in Bishop Butler's 
gloomy conclusions concerning the character of the 
moral governor of the world, whose notions in this re- 
spect that excellent person is as far from approving, as 
from countenancing the bishop's metaphysical super- 
ficial way of introducing two new deities among Chri- 
stians, without ever in any proper way consulting the 
Bible about them." Mr. Lindsey adds, " I should in- 
deed be in pain if in any thing of importance to morals 
I should differ from Dr. Price, whose judgement and 
heart I must ever honour ; who from the first of my 
coming to settle in this great city has been one of my 
chief friends, and whom to know is the same as to 
esteem and love." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

analysis of mr. lindsey's second address. dr. 
watts's unitarianism. mr. lindsey's alarm at 
dr. Priestley's bold assertions, and ultimate 
conversion to his doctrines. 

The Second Address to the Students of Oxford and 
Cambridge, relating to Jesus Christ and the Origin of 



CH. VIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 157 

the great Errors concerning him," was originally de- 
signed to trace the invention of these errors to the 
honest enthusiasm of Justin Martyr, and to exhibit a 
List of false readings and mistranslations of the English 
Bible which contribute to support them. But in the 
mean time, the Rev. John Hawkins having published 
his Bampton Lectures, which contained some curious 
arguments in favour of the doctrine of the Trinity, Mr. 
Lindsey regarded it as not travelling much out of his 
road to introduce a few animadversions upon this gen- 
tleman's doctrine, and to exhibit to serious and inquir- 
ing youth a better mode of reasoning from the evan- 
gelical writings. 

The doctrine of the Trinity, as Mr. Hawkins describes 
it, maintains the existence of " three efficient living in- 
telligent persons, the sovereign causes and rulers of all 
things;" and he strangely presumes that this was the doc- 
trine of the church previously to the publication of the 
holy writings; and that, if this fact be allowed, the Scrip- 
tures " are sufficiently full and intelligible ;" but if other- 
wise, they contain " more than enough to perplex and 
misguide the readers, and to lead them into errors of the 
first magnitude*." So that, upon Mr. Hawkins's hypo- 
thesis, the Scriptures do not teach the doctrine of the 
Trinity, but only allude to it, and that obscurely. From 
whence it follows, that no one who takes his creed from 
the New Testament only, will believe in the doctrine of 
the Trinity. 

Mr. Lindsey, justly regarding it as a vain attempt to 
reason with a person who advanced an hypothesis so ar- 
bitrary and unfounded, thought that he should engage 
the attention of his readers to better purpose by present- 



* Mr. Lindsey's Second Address, Introd. p. vi. Hawkins's Discourses at 
the Bampton Lecture, p. 59. 



158 MEMOIRS OF THE DATE [cH. \ r tk. 

ing them with " a sample of the right method of inter- 
preting the sacred writings." Accordingly, he exhibits 
in his first chapter the evidence concerning the person of 
Christ contained in the four Evangelists and in the Acts 
of the Apostles, and thanks Mr. Hawkins for putting him 
upon the inquiry; as, says he, "it has given me an oppor- 
tunity of drawing forth and exhibiting, even beyond my 
own expectation, the most overwhelming evidence of the 
following facts, clear and plain to every understanding, 
and which all men who believe the Scriptures sooner or 
later must bow down to and acknowledge : namely, 

1. "That there is One God, one single person who 
is God, the sole Creator and Sovereign Lord of all things. 

2. "That the holy Jesus was a man of the Jewish 
nation, the servant of this God, highly honoured and 
distinguished by him. 

3. "That the Spirit, or Holy Spirit, was not a person 
or intelligent being, but only the extraordinary power or 
gift of God, first to our Lord Jesus Christ himself in his 
lifetime, and afterwards to the apostles and many of the 
first Christians, to impower them to preach and propa- 
gate the gospel with success 1 *." 

In the second chapter the learned author produces evi- 
dence to prove, "that Justin Martyr was the first person 
who ascribed divinity to Christ, by maintaining, that be- 
fore his works of creation God produced from himself a 
rational power or agent, in scripture God, the Word, the 
Son, &c. who was his instrument in the creation, and his 
substitute and representative afterwards in the appear- 
ances made to the patriarchs, and at the giving of the law 
to Moses, and was afterwards united to the man Christ 
Jesus f." 

Justin Martyr was a Platonic philosopher, an honest 

* Lindsey's Second Address, Introd p. xix. f Ibid. p. xx. 



CH. VIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 159 

and zealous inquirer after truth. He embraced Christi- 
anity as a more excellent system of philosophy than that 
of Plato, but he wished to reconcile his new doctrine as 
nearly as possible to his former opinions. And some pe- 
culiarities in the phraseology both of the Jewish and 
Christian scriptures being, as he imagined, favourable to 
his hypothesis, he easily persuaded himself that this hy- 
pothesis was true ; and the rather, because the doctrine 
which he maintained exalted, as he thought, the person 
and the character of the founder of the Christian philo- 
sophy, and entirely effaced the reproach to which the 
Christian religion was exposed from the low birth, the 
humble circumstances, and the ignominious death of its 
author. This hypothesis he defends in a dialogue, real 
or fictitious, with one Trypho, a Jew, whom he. intro- 
duces as declaring that his whole nation expected the 
Messiah to be a mere human being, brought into the 
world in the ordinary way : and that " it was to them a 
thing unheard of, and the height of folly, to suppose him 
to have preexisted before the ages as a God, and to have 
submitted afterwards to have been born and to become 
man # ." Justin, however, undertakes to prove the truth 
of the doctrine, which to the Jewish nation appeared so 
extravagant. And to this end he appeals to their own 
scriptures in a series of arguments which Mr. Lindsey 
has detailed, and which have been borrowed from age to 
age by all who have adopted a similar opinion, viz. That 
it is to the Son that God speaks when he says, " Let us 
make man ;" that Christ was the Jehovah who appeared 
to Abraham; and that he was the angel who. spake to 
Moses in the burning bush, and who delivered the law 
from mount Sinai. Nor does this Christian philosopher 
appeal either to the authority of Christ or his apostles 



* Justin Martyr, Opp. p. 143, 144. Lindsey's Second Address, p. 153, 



160 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH> VIII. 



for the truth of his doctrine or the correctness of his in- 
terpretation, but without any hesitation he declares him- 
self inspired to explain the Scriptures of the Old Testa- 
ment, and expects his readers to believe it upon his own 
word. 

" I shall tell you plain fact/' says he, " without any 
art or embellishment of words, for which I have no talent. 
But it hath pleased God of his especial favour to impart 
to me the gift of understanding his Scriptures. And of 
this his grace to me I call all to partake freely and with- 
out reward, lest for not communicating so great a benefit 
to others I should myself be condemned in the judge- 
ment which the Creator of the world will exercise by our 
Lord Jesus Christ*." 

Mr. Lindsey upon this with his usual candour and 
judgement remarks, that " as Justin was a person of 
unquestioned probity, we cannot doubt of his sincerity 
in believing himself to have had an extraordinary insight 
into the Scriptures given him by the Almighty, though 
he most wretchedly imposed upon himself in it. His 
alleging that he himself was inspired, is no proof to us 
of it; and we can no more admit any new revelation from 
his own word without the stamp of divine authority, than 
we can pay respect to the waking dreams and revelations 
of Baron Swedenborg|." 

The third part of the work contains a copious cata- 



* Justin. Dialog, cum Tryphon. p. 154. Second Address, p. 176. 

f Second Address, p. 177, 178. Mr. Lindsey, in a note, mentions an 
anecdote which he had " received from a person of great worth and credit: 
that a friend of his several years ago walking with Baron Swedenborg along 
Cheapside, the baron suddenly bowed very low down to the ground ; when 
the gentleman lifting him up and asking what he was about, the baron re- 
plied by asking him, if he did not see Moses pass by, and told him that he 
had bowed to him." After this anecdote, one may easily admit that the ba- 
ron himself was a sincere believer in his own doctrines and visions. But 
fb.at any persons who are not in the same state of mind can be induced to 
irive credit to his extravagant reveries, and to profess themselves his dis- 
ciples, is ft problem of very difficult solution. It is not, however, more won- 



CH. VIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 161 



logue of False Readings and Mistranslations in the En- 
glish Bible which countenance the doctrine of the divi- 
nity of Christ ; in the room of which the learned writer 
substitutes those readings which are supported by the 
best authorities, and the translations which appear to him 
to be the most correct. This very valuable portion of his 
work was afterwards republished in a separate pamphlet, 
in order to give it a more extensive circulation. 

In the First Part of this Second Address to the Youth 
of the two Universities, Mr. Lindsey introduces some 
curious and affecting passages from Dr. Watts's <£ So- 
lemn Address to the great and ever-blessed God, on a re- 
view of what he had written in the Trinitarian Contro- 
versy." It is well known that this learned and pious 
writer, (who paid very great attention to the ques- 
tion,) in the latter part of his life receded very far from 
those * mystical opinions concerning the doctrine of the 
Trinity, and particularly the person of Christ, which he 
held in his youth. His well-known volume of Hymns 
and Spiritual Songs, so much used in Calvinistic con- 
gregations, was published when he was very young, and 
contains many expressions and many sentiments from 
which, though regarded by great numbers as the standard 
of Christian verity, his judgement revolted in maturer 
years, and which he would gladly have altered if he had 
been permitted by the proprietors of the copyright, who 
knew their own interest too well to admit the proposed 
improvements. 

His sentiments concerning the person of Christ were 
believed by many to approximate very nearly to those of 

derful than the confidence which has been placed of late years in the inspira- 
tion of Richard Brothers and Johanna Southcote, and that not only by per- 
sons of the lowest rank in society, but by men of sense and education. How 
lamentable is it that religion, which is the most rational thing in the world, 
should thus, by the errors and weaknesses of its friends and advocates, be 
brought into contempt and made the laughing-stock of unbelievers ! 

M 



162 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VIII. 



the old Socinians. But it is not certain that Dr. Watts 
ever regarded himself as a Socinian. 

On the contrary, there can be little doubt that, owing 
to early prejudice, he would to the latest day of his life 
have started from the imputation with horror. How 
nearly soever his opinions might really approach to the 
Socinian scheme, possibly he himself apprehended that 
he still kept at anHriaccessible distance from them, by 
contending for a mystical personal union by which a true 
and proper deity was communicated to the human na- 
ture of Christ. Absurd as this supposition is in itself, 
and as it must be viewed by all unprejudiced minds, it 
did not appear in that light to Di\ Watts, nor to many 
others who, influenced by his authority, have since em- 
braced the same strange hypothesis. He and they w r ere 
serious believers in this modern notion, and have thought 
that they have discovered in it a salvo for their falling 
orthodoxy. And they have no doubt as good a right as 
others to retain and to defend their own system. Dr. 
Watts's latest opinions concerning the Trinity are sup- 
posed to have been contained in some papers prepared 
for the press, which were left to the discretion of Dr. 
Jennings and Dr. Doddridge, and which were committed 
to the flames, (very much, as the author of this Memoir 
has been credibly informed, against the judgement and 
inclination of the latter,) probably because it was sus- 
pected that they would give offence to the zealots of or- 
thodoxy. At any rate, Dr. Watts's last sentiments con- 
cerning the person of Christ cannot, perhaps, now be 
absolutely ascertained ; but the feelings of his humble, 
pious, and inquisitive mind are beautifully exhibited in 
that devout Address to the Deity from which Mr. Lind- 
sey has made some copious extracts, of which the follow- 
ing are an interesting specimen : 

" Hadst thou informed me, gracious Father, in any 



CH. VIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 1G3 



place of thy word that this divine doctrine is not to he un- 
derstood by men, and yet they were required to believe 
it 5 I would have subdued all my curiosity to faith. But 
I cannot find thou hast any where forbid me to under- 
stand it, or make these inquiries. I have, therefore, been 
long searching into this divine doctrine, that I may pay 
thee due honour with understanding. Surely I ought to 
know the God whom I worship, whether he be one pure 
and simple being, or whether thou art a threefold deity, 
consisting of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." 

" Thou hast called the poor and the ignorant, the 
mean and foolish things of this world, to the knowledge 
of thyself and thy Son. But how can such weak creatures 
ever take in so strange, so difficult, and so abstruse a 
doctrine as this, in the explication and defence whereof, 
multitudes of men, even men of learning and piety, have 
lost themselves in infinite subtilties of disputes and end- 
less mazes of darkness? And can this strange and per- 
plexing notion of three real persons going to make up 
one true God be so necessary and so important a part of 
that Christian doctrine which, in the Old Testament and 
the New, is represented as so plain and easy even to the 
meanest understandings*?" 

* See Mr. Lindsey's Second Address, p. 5, 6. The extracts are taken 
from a work published in 1785, entitled <( The Life of the Rev. Isaac Watts, 
D.D. by Samuel Johnson, LL.D. with Notes, containing Animadversions and 
Additions." 

The following extract from a letter written by the late reverend and learned 
Samuel Merivale of Exeter, to Dr. Priestley at Leeds, exhibits the most 
authentic account of Dr. Watts's last sentiments concerning the person of 
Christ ; from which it appears that, in Dr. Lardner's estimation, Dr. Watts 
became in the strict and proper sense of the word an Unitarian. 

*' What I mentioned to Mr. Aikin," (the late Rev. Dr. Aikin, Professor of 
Divinity at Warrington,) " concerning Dr. Watts, I had from Dr. Lardner, 
who told it me as a thing known to few, though without enjoining me se- 
crecy. — Having mentioned in the coui-se of my correspondence with the lat- 
ter the difficulty of fixing my sentiments with regard to the person of Christ, 
though I had formerly thought the doctrine of his preexistence sufficiently 
proved by Dr. Clarke, Dr. Watts, and others, he replies, ' I think Dr. Watts 
never was an Arian, to his honour be it spoken. When he first wrote of the 
Trinity, I reckoned he believed three equal divine persons. But in the latter 

M 2 



164 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VIII, 



Dr. Priestley, who was vefy sensible that his ardent 
spirit, his haste in writing, and his reluctance to revise 
and to correct, occasionally betrayed him into inaccu- 
racy in his reasonings and sometimes in his facts, and 
into an unguardedness of language of which his enemies 
were glad to avail themselves to the utmost, was accus- 
tomed to submit his more important publications to the 
cooler judgement of his calm and prudent friend, and 

part of his life, for several years before his death, and before he was seized 
with an imbecility of his faculties, he was an Unitarian. How he came to 
be so I cannot certainly say, but I think it was the result of his own medita- 
tions on the Scriptures. He was very desirous to promote that opinion, and 
wrote a great deal upon the subject. But his papers fell into good hands,, 
(meaning Mr. Neat's,) and they did not think them fit for publication. I also 
saw some of them.' " 

"As there seemed some ambiguity in the word Unitarian, though I knew 
very well in how strict a sense the Doctor generally used it, and being aware 
that Dr. Watts in his later publications quite gave up the notion of a three- 
fold Deity, though he contended earnestly for the preexistence of Christ's 
human soul, originally possessed of powers superangelical, on which how- 
ever he is silent in his solemn Address to the Deity, printed in the quarto 
edition of his Works, I begged leave to be informed, whether in his unpub- 
lished papers he had appeared to have given up that point ; in answer to 
which Dr. Lardner wrote : 

" ' I question whether you have any where in print Dr. Watts's last 
Thoughts upon the Trinity. They were known to very few. My nephew 
Neal, an understanding gentleman, was intimate with Dr. Watts,- and often 
with the family where he lived. Sometimes in an evening when they were 
alone, he would talk to his friends in the family of his new thoughts con- 
cerning the person of Christ, and their great importance; and that, if he 
should be able to recommend them to the world, it would be the most con- 
siderable thing that ever he performed. My nephew, therefore, came to 
me and told me of it, and that the family was greatly concerned to hear him 
talk so much of the importance of these sentiments. I told my nephew that 
Dr. Watts was in the right in saying they were important, but I was of opi- 
nion that he was unable to recommend them to the public, because he had 
never been used to a proper way of reasoning on such a subject. So it 
proved. My nephew being executor had the papers, and showed me some 
of them. Dr. Watts had written a good deal, but they were not fit to be 
published. Dr. Watts's last thoughts were completely Unitarian.' " 
One cannot help regretting that such should have been the judgement of 
Dr. Lardner, and such the decision of the executors with respect to the pub- 
lication of Dr. Watts's last essays upon a subject on which he had thought 
and written so much. The judgement of Dr. Doddridge, one of the trustees 
for Dr. Watts's papers, himself a professed Trinitarian, but a lover of truth 
and a friend to inquiry, was, as I have mentioned above, very different, and, 
as many think, more correct. How interesting and instructive would it have 
been to have traced the mind of this great and good man through the various 
steps of his progress, from the darkest shades of error to the clear light ot 
rational and evangelical truth I 



€H. VIII.] 



REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



165 



very frequently he yielded at discretion to every erasure 
or alteration which Mr. Lindsey recommended. But he 
was not always equally passive. Where he believed the 
cause of truth to be at stake, no advice of friends, no 
earnest expostulation, no serious representation of the 
offence which would be taken, or the supposed injury 
which might accrue to himself or to the cause, could de- 
ter the learned, zealous, and inflexible detector of the 
Corruptions of Christianity from exhibiting what he be- 
lieved to be important truth, and from exposing what 
he thought gross and pernicious error, in language the 
most direct and explicit, without giving himself the least 
concern about personal consequences, or the offence which 
might be taken by the political supporters of corrupt 
systems or the partisans of orthodox creeds. 

And it is happy for the interest of rational Chris- 
tianity, that this intrepid champion of truth had the 
resolution at times to persist in his own judgement, in 
opposition to the remonstrances of his less informed 
and more timid friends. In the year 1/84 Dr. Priest- 
ley, then residing at Birmingham, resumed the Theolo- 
gical Repository^ a work which had been discontinued 
for upwards of twelve years, chiefly it should seem with 
a view to bring forward for open discussion some origi- 
nal ideas which he had long entertained concerning in- 
spiration, the gradual formation and improvement of the 
character of Christ, and the history of the miraculous 
conception. These papers, as usual, he put into the 
hands of Mr. Lindsey for his perusal and correction. 
And it is amusing to see how anxious this venerable 
confessor, who had exposed himself to so much hazard 
by the frank and unreserved avowal of the proper huma- 
nity of Jesus Christ, was, to warn his friend, and to 
save him from the odium which he apprehended would 



166 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VIII. 



accrue from pursuing this principle to its just con- 
sequences, which at any rate could not be so obnoxious 
as the principle itself. For, if Jesus Christ be in truth 
one of the human race, can any thing be more reason- 
able than to admit that his character, however exalted, 
was the result of the discipline through which he passed; 
and that his inspiration, how superior soever to that of 
other prophets and messengers of God, did not extend 
beyond the purposes of his mission, and might leave 
him involved in the common misapprehensions of his 
contemporaries and countrymen upon physiological or 
philosophical subjects ? And as to the case of the mira- 
culous conception, which is a mere insulated fact upon 
which no one important conclusion depends, it is surely 
a very fair question of historical research. 

These questions, however, were at that time quite 
new, and the discussion of them alarmed Mr. Lindsey 
lest it should be attended with ill consequences to his 
friend, by creating enemies, injuring his character, or 
impeding his usefulness. In a letter to Mr. Cappe, 
dated Dec. 2, 17&4, in reference to the papers in the 
Theological Repository concerning the Inspiration of 
Moses and of Christ, he adds: " He was so good as to 
send me the whole ; but I expressed myself so vehe- 
mently against the latter part, that he yielded to defer 
the publication in the first Number, but I apprehend it 
will be brought forward in the next." 

" Concerning it I would first say, in general, that 
granting him to have proved his fact, that our Saviour 
was as much in the dark as the most vulgar among the 
Jews about possessions, and believed them in the gross 
literal sense ; and if also he was in ignorance of the 
Scriptures of the Old Testament and misapplied them : 

" Yet our friend has no call whatever to tell this to 



CH. VIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 167 

the world, because it would increase the prejudices of 
multitudes against him, and hinder others less indis- 
posed from reading his works." 

" I do not, moreover, apprehend that the persuasion 
of Christ being an infallible teacher, and perfectly sin- 
less, does now stand in the way of any one's embracing 
Christianity. If our friend had been pushed upon this 
point in the way of controversy, I should have said 
nothing against his delivering the sense of his own 
mind ; but as things now stand, to go on to attack a 
character held in such different universal estimation, 
unprovoked, seems to me likely to do harm and no 
good." 

But still more will the outcry be increased against 
him, if it should appear that he lias not proved his facts, 
and made good his accusation; which may be reason- 
ably questioned in some instances. And not only my- 
self, but Dr. Jebb, and one other whom I have con- 
sulted, are persuaded that his chief argument fails him, 
when he would prove Christ's mistaken imperfect cita- 
tion of the Old Testament similar to that of the rest of 
his countrymen, from Luke xxiv. 27." 

" I own I am unwilling that he should let any thing 
fall from his pen that might cooperate with the endea- 
vours of many to prevent the reading of his works, which 
are so calculated to open the eyes of many, and have 
had and have that effect with all that can be brought to 
read them." 

These animadversions, which are tinged with some- 
thing which appears more like asperity than was usual 
with Mr. Lindsey, prove at least, that if he was partial 
to the merits of his inquisitive and learned friend, he 
was not blind to his failings, and that he did not hastily 
adopt all his opinions. Nor was he deficient in that 
sure criterion of true and virtuous friendship, faithful 



168 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. VIII. 

reproof, where he thought it needful ; for there can be 
no doubt that the sentiments which he here expresses 
to Mr. Cappe he had previously expressed in language 
at least equally strong to Dr. Priestley himself. 

Yet, after all, it may be doubted whether the over- 
cautious spirit of the friendly monitor, and his anxious 
apprehension lest the uncommon boldness of his friend's 
remarks should swell the tide of popular prejudice 
against him, have not induced him to overcharge the 
picture. Dr. Priestley was as far as his friend could be 
from desiring to make an unprovoked attack upon the 
character of Christ, But holding the character of Jesus 
perhaps in as high estimation as Mr. Lindsey himself, 
he did not think it necessary to presume, nor did he find 
evidence to prove, that our Lord, being in all other re- 
spects a man like, other men, was born into the world a 
perfect character, or that his character was miraculously 
superinduced. On the contrary, believing that Jesus 
was in all respects like unto his brethren, and pursuing 
his principles to their just consequences, he argued that 
our Saviour came into the world with the frailties and 
infirmities of a human being, moral as well as physical, 
and that, by the peculiar process of mental discipline to 
which he was subjected, he grew up to that consummate 
dignity and elevation of character under which he ap^ 
pears in the writings of the evangelists. And this truly 
Christian philosopher believed it to be not only a more 
rational way of accounting for the excellence of our 
Lord's character, and more agreeable to the language of 
the New Testament, which represents him as growing 
in wisdom and in favour with God and man, but, in 
truth, more honourable to our Lord himself, that his 
perfect moral excellence should be the result of his own 
exertion, vigilance, and fortitude, rather than of a su- 
pernatural operation. And upon this supposition, the 



CH. VIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 1 GO 

example of Jesus becomes far more interesting and 
efficacious than upon the common hypothesis. Dr. 
Priestley's doctrine was new and original, and at first 
very obnoxious and startling even to those who thought 
with him upon most subjects. And as his generous 
mind was above courting popularity, he took no pains 
to avoid offensive language in expressing his ideas : but 
in the present day, the alarm having subsided, and a 
cooler examination of the subject having taken place, it 
would I believe be hard to find any considerate and con- 
sistent Unitarian who does not adopt Dr. Priestley's 
ideas concerning the formation of our Lord's moral cha- 
racter, and who does not rejoice that he did not yield to 
the prudent timidity of his worthy but less adventurous 
friends. Mr. Lindsey acknowledges to his learned cor- 
respondent that " he had not then paid much attention 
to the subject." Afterwards, when he reflected more 
deliberately upon it, there is reason to believe that his 
alarm ceased, and that he became convinced that his 
difference with his friend was more nominal than real. 

Whether, as Dr. Priestley apprehends, our Lord was 
mistaken with respect to the cause of epilepsy and insa- 
nity, or whether, as Mr. Farmer maintains, knowing the 
falsehood of the popular opinion, he still thought fit, 
and indeed found it necessary, to use the popular lan- 
guage, is a more doubtful question than that concerning 
the natural perfection of our Lord's character. But 
surely it is a question highly worthy of public discussion 
among those who are desirous of obviating objections to 
the credibility of the New Testament. The language of 
Jesus to those who were believed to be possessed by 
-demons, that is, by human ghosts, and especially in the 
case of the Gadarene demoniac, Luke viii. is hardly re- 
concileable to the simplicity and sincerity of our Lord's 
character, if he at the same time knew that the sym- 



170 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. VIII. 

ptoms were occasioned by natural disorder, not by demo- 
niacal possession ; nor can it be regarded as any objec- 
tion to his prophetic authority, or to the reality of the 
miracle, that his inspiration did not extend to the know- 
ledge of the nature and causes of the diseases which he 

... o 

was empowered to heal. On the contrary, it may be 
urged with great appearance of truth, that it cannot 
with any reason be admitted that our Lord was so grossly 
ignorant of the state of the dead, as to believe that the 
souls of bad men were permitted to enter into the 
bodies of living men and to torment them. Upon the 
whole, with the exception of the case of the Gadarene 
demoniac, it seems more easy to admit that our Lord 
used the popular language without adopting the popular 
philosophy, than to suppose him chargeable with such 
an egregious error upon a subject so closely connected 
with the proper object of his mission. The contrary 
hypothesis is, however, more generally adopted by those 
who inquire freely into the subject, as I believe I am 
warranted to say it certainly was by Mr. Lindsey, not- 
withstanding the alarm he expresses at his friend's insi- 
nuation, that " our Saviour was as much in the dark as 
the most vulgar among the Jews, about possessions ; 
and believed them in the gross literal sense." 

That our Lord misunderstood and misapplied the 
prophecies of the Old Testament, relating to the Mes- 
siah, is a position maintained by Dr. Priestley, which 
did not meet with the general concurrence of those who 
were disposed to think with him upon other subjects. 
Dr. Jebb and Mr. Lindsey had some reason to say that 
" here his main argument failed him." Our Lord so 
expressly asserts his knowledge of the true sense and 
application of the prophetic scriptures ; he so frequently 
interprets without the least hesitation, and with the 
highest tone of authority, those prophecies which relate 



CH. VIII.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 171 

to the Messiah ; he so gravely rebukes his disciples for 
not understanding what he had so plainly and repeatedly 
taught ; and after his resurrection he so explicitly as- 
sumes an authority to " open their understandings that 
they might understand the Scriptures ; " that to deny to 
Jesus a power which he so directly challenges, looks 
like an attack upon his veracity,, and is little less than 
charging him with vanity and arrogance. Nor are we 
by the necessity of the case driven to this conclusion. 
For it is not allowed that Dr. Priestley, though he has 
attempted it, as indeed his argument required, has suc- 
ceeded in any one instance in proving that our Lord has 
actually fallen into error, in his explanation and applica- 
tion of the prophetic scriptures. This however is a fair 
and interesting topic of discussion ; and the friends of 
scriptural knowledge will rejoice to have the question 
set in a satisfactory light. 

Dr. Priestley, unawed by the remonstrances of his 
friends, and fearless of personal consequences in the pur- 
suit of Christian truth, and in the detection and expo- 
sure of the corruptions of the Christian doctrine, or of the 
sacred text, and justly thinking that nothing would prove 
more favourable to the discovery of truth than fair and 
animated discussion, proceeded in his open and manly 
way, under the signature of Ebionita in the Theological 
Repository, to urge his objections against the narrative 
of the Miraculous Conception in the introductory chap- 
ters to the gospels of Matthew and Luke. This bold at- 
tack upon an article of faith which had maintained its 
ground undisputed for upwards of a thousand years, not 
only renewed the clamours of bigots against the insolence 
and impiety of the hardy assailant, but excited consider- 
able apprehensions among many professed friends to free 
inquiry, who not only feared that the author's own re- 



172 



MExMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. VIM. 



putation might suffer, and his writings be brought into 
discredit, and that his usefulness might thereby be greatly 
impeded, but that the credibility of the Gospel history 
itself might be impeached, if so large a portion of it should 
be regarded as spurious. Nor were the apprehensions of 
any one upon this occasion more vivid than those of the 
venerable subject of the present Memoir; who thus ex- 
presses his feelings and his fears, in confidence, to his 
learned and estimable friend the Rev. Newcome Cappe, 
at York. 

April 30, 1 785. " I wish some able hand would send 
him some remarks on his account of the miraculous con- 
ception; for no one I believe would sooner relinquish 
any opinion, was he made to see cause for it. A friend 
told me that he thought the Doctor seemed somewhat 
moved, when he remarked to him that an extraordinary 
event of that kind might be most important in forming 
the character of Christ, by inducing his parents to pay 
particular attention to him in this respect, and by the 
early impressions it might make upon his own mind ; 
neither of which had occurred to him. However, whether 
he or any one retains or rejects the notion, is of little con- 
sequence. A man may be most fully persuaded that Jesus 
is the Christ, whether he holds him as the son of Mary, 
or of Joseph also. Only, I have much wished Dr. Priestley 
could restrain himself from appearing the patron of the 
latter opinion, lest it might hurt his usefulness in pre^- 
venting the reading of his many valuable theological 
writings." 

These are the natural and liberal reflections of Mr. 
Lindsey\s candid mind upon the first proposal of the sub- 
ject. But his own correct feelings appear to have been 
in some degree aggravated, and, if I may so express it, 
acidified, by the less candid observations which he oc- 



CH. VIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 1 7?y 

casionally heard from others. He thus expresses him- 
self in a letter to his friend at York, dated December 8, 
1785. 

"I am exceedingly gratified by your leaving your let- 
ter to Dr. Priestley unsealed, and permitting me the 
perusal of it. "When you but barely intimated your senti- 
ment at York, but now much more from your further 
enlargement upon it, I think I see a new light thrown 
upon our Saviour s language and manner of address to 
Almighty God throughout the gospels, though I have 
not considered yet at all^ how the idea of his extraordi- 
nary birth at times pervades the language of his apostles 
concerning him. I shall, however, most earnestly long 
for your full discussion of the subject, and I hope it will 
please Providence that nothing will prevent your going 
on to finish this disquisition in the manner in which you 
have planned it. I do not however imagine, as you for- 
merlv expressed yourself, that the suggestion of any ar- 
gument of this kind will have such an effect on our friend 
as to work any change in his sentiments ; though I hope, 
if he attends to it, as I trust he will, the remarks on 
Ebionita pointing out so many mistakes, and several less 
fair (however undesigned) methods of application to his 
readers, will prevent him exhibiting his opinion in such 
a disgusting form, and with so wrong a spirit, in his 
greater work now printing." 

" Besides the ardour of his own natural temper, I am 
sure that he has been hurried on further than that would 
have carried his judicious mind, by the vehemence of 
some persons about him, so as to look upon the mira- 
culous conception as one of the great corruptions of 
Christianitv. So that he set out without weighing the 
consequences ; and as his method of treating the subject 
did not affect himself nor disturb him, he thought it 
would be the same with others. And having happily got 



174 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH..VHI. 



over the outcries raised against him on other like points, 
as he conceived, he believed it would be the same here. 
I will, however, entertain hope that your most candid 
but strong manner, at the conclusion of your letter, of 
representing to him your own and the opinions of others 
concerning his treating the subject, will prevail with him 
to treat the matter with a better temper, as not a day 
passes but I meet with one or other friends that earnestly 
wish it for his own, and for the truth's sake." 

Dr. Priestley, in his Essay upon the Miraculous Con- 
ception, in the Repository, expresses his sentiments upon 
this subject, as upon all others, unequivocally, and with- 
out disguise ; and certainly, though not with intention 
to give offence, yet without any precaution to guard 
against it. But surely his language, and his manner of 
treating the subject, hardly deserve the severe censure of 
making " unfair applications to his readers, and of exhibit- 
ing his opinion in a disgusting form, and with a wrong 
spirit." In an argument so novel, the prejudices of some 
would undoubtedly be shocked. But there were many 
who, though not converted to his opinion, w T ere by no 
means offended with the argument or the spirit of the 
writer, but rather admired the ingenuity which could 
give plausibility to an hypothesis in their apprehension so 
unfounded, and so inconsistent with what they judged to 
be the plain declaration of the New Testament. Such 
was unquestionably the first impression upon the in- 
genuous mind of Mr. Lindsey ; and nothing but a & too 
great facility in yielding his own judgement-to that of 
his friends, could have induced him to^think and to ex- 
press himself with such unusual asperity upon the temper 
and spirit of his honest and-able fellow-labourer in the 
field of truth. 

It is, however, of more consequence to remark, how 
widely Mr. Lindsey differed from his inquisitive friend 



CH. VIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 175 

upon the subject of the miraculous conception, and how 
unlikely he was at that time ever to be reconciled to his 
sentiments. But an upright inquirer will never think it 
too late to learn, and will be always ready to embrace doc- 
trines the most opposite to his preconceived opinions, if 
after mature examination he sees reason to believe that 
they are founded in truth. Such was the character of the 
venerable subject of this Memoir ; and in the following 
extract from a letter to his friend Mr. Cappe, he ex- 
presses himself in a more hesitating tone. 

April 10, 1787. " I am much concerned to find you 
have such a multiplicity of business and of avocations ; 
but I hope you will steal time to give us your arguments 
for the miraculous conception, which I have not hitherto 
seen any cause to give up, though some inconsistencies 
with which the evidence for it is encumbered have dis- 
turbed me a little ; and I should be happy to see your 
further positive scriptural proofs for it made oat at full 
length." In a letter dated nine months before, in July 
1786, Mr. Lindsey had importunately urged the same 
request : " I cannot conclude without entreating you, my 
most worthy friend, to give us, and give the public, your 
valuable thoughts on the miraculous conception. If Dr. 
Jebb had been alive, he would have joined with me, and 
would have told you it was a duty for you to do it. He 
had not attended much to the argument ; but he had no 
doubt about the fact, or the genuineness of those scrip- 
tures which relate to it, any more than you have. Adieu. 
But I beg you will think of this seriously and in earnest." 

Notwithstanding, however, these repeated and urgent 
calls, the oracle remained silent. Whatever might be tit? 
reason', whether, upon further inquiry, he found that, when 
he first promised the answer, like his precursor Dr. Jebb, 
he had grot attended much, to the argument, or -from some 
other imknown cause, this truly learned and acute theolo- 



176 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. VIIlv 



gian, who was looked up to as the only person competent 
to advocate the sinking cause of the suspected narrative, 
declined to enter the lists and the historian and 
detector of the corruptions of Christianity was left the 
undisputed master of the field. His venerahle friend, 
thus deserted by his principal ally, after a few more inef- 
fectual struggles, found himself compelled, by the power 
of truth and the irresistible force of argument, to lay 
down his arms and surrender at discretion • and, like 
the man of Tarsus, to become the champion of the faith 
which he once disapproved. In other words, Mr. Lind- 
sey, upon further consideration of the subject, and seeing 
no satisfactory reply to his friend's arguments, gave up, 
though not without some reluctance, his belief in the 
miraculous conception : and in the next edition of his 
Liturgy, in the year 1789, he omitted that creed, erro- 
neously called the creed of the apostles, which contains 
this unscriptural article. 

This doctrine, that Jesus of Nazareth, the great 
prophet of the Most High, was the son of Joseph 
and Mary, which was so alarming when it was first 
asserted by Dr. Priestley, is now perfectly familiar- 
ised, and is I believe generally received by those who 
maintain the proper humanity of Jesus Christ. In- 
deed the direct assertion of Luke, which can by no 
fair and legitimate criticism be set aside, that our Lord 
had just completed his thirtieth year t, in the fifteenth 

* Mr. Cappe's first remarks upon Dr. Priestley were published in the 
fifth volume of the Theological Repository, under the signature of Nazarteus. 
The principal object was to prove that the miracle, though in its own na- 
ture necessarily private, might nevertheless have its use. Dr. Priestley 
in the same volume adverts to this objection, in a paper signed Nazarenus. 
Whether Mr. Cappe, like his ingenuous correspondent, ever abandoned the 
miraculous conception, does not appear from any of his posthumous publica- 
tions. The " Connected History of the Life of Christ," published by his 
excellent widow, leaves the fact in a state of considerable doubt. 

f K^xofjLin u* tray rgttKovra, est incipid jam esse triccnarius, quod non did- 
tur nisi post hnpletum annum tricessimum. Grotius. 



CH. Vim] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 177 

year of Tiberius, fixes the birth of Christ at least two 
years after Herod's death. This single undeniable chro- 
nological fact at once invalidates the introductory narra- 
tive to Matthew and Luke. And the uselessness of the 
train of splendid miracles there recorded ; the very little 
attention which they excited to the object of them ; the 
apparent fabulousness of many of the circumstances ; 
the irrelevance, not to say the absurdity, of the quota- 
tions from the Old Testament ; the inconsistency of the 
two narratives with each other; the entire omission of the 
whole transaction by Mark and John ; the want of the 
introduction to Matthew in the Ebionite copies, and to 
Luke in those of Marcion ; the rejection of the miracu- 
lous conception by the Gnostics, with whose system it 
would so well have harmonized, and by the Ebionites or 
Jewish Christians, whose history supplied so many prior 
accounts of miraculous births ; the prevailing desire of 
Christians to aggrandize their master, and in every pos- 
sible way to diminish the disgrace of his extraction and 
the reproach of his cross ; and, in fine, the general 
credit given to the narrative in distant countries, and 
the discredit under which it laboured in those regions 
which are represented as the very scenes of these extra- 
ordinary events ; all concur to establish the conclusion, 
that the introductory narratives to Matthew and Luke 
were not written by the evangelists to whom they are 
ascribed. By whom they were written, and at what 
time they were prefixed to their respective histories, it 
may not be easy to ascertain : but as we are certain, 
from the date of Luke's history, that the facts cannot be 
true, we may be equally certain that they could not have 
been related by the apostle of Jesus, or the faithful and 
accurate companion of Paul. 



N 



178 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IX, 



CHAPTER IX. 

UNITARIAN LITURGY ADOPTED BY THE CONGREGATION 
AT THE KING'S CHAPEL AT BOSTON IN NEW ENGLAND. 
MR. LINDSEY CORRESPONDS WITH DR. FREEMAN, MR. 
VANDERKEMP, ETC. PROGRESS AND PRESENT STATE 
OF THE UNITARIAN CHURCHES IN AMERICA. 

The grand theological controversies which excited so 
much attention, and were conducted with so much 
animosity, in England, could not fail to attract notice 
in America, and especially in the New England States, 
where a manliness of character, a decency of morals, 
and a serious though not universally enlightened spirit 
of piety, dispose the minds of considerable numbers to 
religious inquiries, and where freedom of investigation 
sutlers no restraint from the civil power. It was with 
great pleasure that Mr. Lindsey received information in 
the year 1786, from a respectable correspondent, (the 
Rev. J. Smith, afterwards librarian to the University of 
Cambridge in New England,) that the principal episco- 
palian church in Boston had consented to the introduc- 
tion of a Liturgy reformed nearly upon the plan of that 
which had been adopted in Essex-street, and perfectly 
Unitarian The minister of this congregation, which 

* In Mr. Freeman's first letter to Mr. Lindsey, dated July 7, 1786, he 
tells his venerable correspondent, " The Liturgy of our church was during 
a long time unpopular. But your approbation, the note of Dr. Price an- 
nexed to a letter of Dr. Lush, and the mention which Dr. Priestley is pleased 
to make of it in his sermon upon the fifth of November, have raised it in 
esteem. It now seems to be acknowledged that that book cannot be very 
absurd which is praised by gentlemen of such great learning and abilities, 
who have been so long known ,and so justly admired in this country. I 
wish the work was more worthy of your approbation. I can only say that I 
endeavoured to make it so by attempting to introduce your Liturgy entire. 
But the people of the chapel were not ripe for so great a change. Some 
defects and improprieties I was under the necessity of retaining, for the 
sake of inducing them to omit the most exceptionable parts of the old ser- 
vice, the Athanasian prayers. Perhaps in some future day, when their 
minds become more enlightened, they may consent to a further alteration/ 1 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 179 

assembled at what was called the King's Chapel, was 
the Rev. James Freeman, and is described by his friend 
as " a young man of a great deal of knowledge and 
good sense, and of an excellent disposition." Some of 
his hearers left him on account of the change introduced 
into the service ; but the majority adhered to him, and 
the congregation flourished under him. He was for 
some time under considerable embarrassment for want 
of episcopal ordination, upon which some of his hearers 
laid much stress, though in the estimation of the more 
judicious members of his congregation, as well as of Mr. 
Freeman himself, it was rather a matter of expedience 
than necessity. To avoid, however, giving unnecessary 
offence, he applied for orders first to Bishop Seabury, 
who had lately been consecrated by the non-juring 
bishops of Scotland, and who exercised his jurisdiction 
over the episcopal churches in Connecticut. But this 
prelate, being a rigid Calvinist, would not lay hands 

The writer of this Memoir is happy to add, that the day of increased light 
and liberality, foretold by this enlightened reformer, is now arrived, and that 
Dr. Freeman has himself lived to see his own prediction verified. In a new 
edition of the Boston Liturgy, printed in the year 1811, a copy of which 
the writer has had the honour to receive as a present from the Ministers, 
Wardens, and Vestry of the King's Chapel, nothing is to be found which 
is inconsistent with the purest principles of Unitarian worship as such, and 
with a very few alterations, chiefly verbal, it might be made perfectly unob- 
jectionable. May it long be the efficacious means of supporting the purity 
and simplicity of Christian worship, and diffusing a spirit of rational piety! 

Mr. Freeman further proceeds to state the progress which Unitarian prin- 
ciples were making in the United States, and particularly in New England. 
This he imputes to the many excellent books published in England, and to 
Mr. Lindsey's Works in particular, which were much read and with great 
effect. The sermons and conversation of some clergymen in New England 
also conti'ibuted their share : and amongst these he mentions the Rev. Mr. 
Hazlitt, a pious, zealous, and intelligent English minister, who after his re- 
turn to England settled at Wem in Shropshire. Mr. Freeman speaks of 
himself as particularly indebted to the instructions and conversation of this 
respectable person. " I bless the day," says he, " when that honest man 
first landed in this country." In another letter, dated June 1789, Mr. Free- 
man writes, « Before Mr. Hazlitt came to Boston, the Trinitarian doxology 
was almost universally used. That honest good man prevailed upon several 
respectable ministers to omit it. Since his departure, the number of those 
who repeat only scriptural doxologies has greatly increased, so that there 
arc now many churches in which the worship is strictly Unitarian." 

N 2 



180 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[ch. im 



upon his suspected brother. Application was then 
made to Dr. Provost, who had been elected bishop of 
the province of New York, and who, together with Dr. 
White, had been consecrated to the episcopal office by 
the prelates of the Church of England. This gentle- 
man, who had been a pupil of Dr. J ebb, was a man of 
great learning, of liberal sentiments, and of deep piety. 
At the Convention of the episcopal clergy at Philadel- 
phia, he had himself proposed a very important altera- 
tion in the Litany, viz. to leave out the invocations to 
the Son, the Holy Ghost, and the Trinity ; and to re- 
tain only the first, which is addressed (t to God the 
Father Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth." To 
this worthy prelate, therefore, the members of the con- 
gregation at the Kings Chapel repeatedly applied to 
obtain episcopal ordination for their respected minister. 
But the bishop, perhaps unwilling to give offence to his 
weaker brethren, referred the matter to the next Conven- 
tion at Philadelphia ; which determined Mr. Freeman's 
friends, who had reason to apprehend, that, whatever 
might be the information and liberality of some in- 
dividuals, the majority would decide against him, to 
ordain their own pastor at home. This solemn rite, 
therefore, was performed, with the previous approbation 
of many persons of high character and worth who had 
been consulted upon the occasion, on Sunday the 18th 
of November, 1787, according to a form suggested by 
Governor Bowdoin, a gentleman whose learning, good 
sense, and merit, as Mr. Freeman expresses it in his 
letter to Mr. Lindsey, " would give a sanction to any 
sentiment which he espouses," though the honourable 
Governor was not a member of the King's Chapel con- 
gregation. " The whole ceremony," says Mr. Freeman, 
" was performed with great decency and solemnity in the 
presence of a very numerous assembly. Deep attention 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



181 



was impressed upon every countenance, and many of the 
advocates for religious liberty, of our own and other 
churches^ could not forbear expressing their sensibility 
by tears of joy." The form used upon this interesting 
occasion is published by Mr. Lindsey in his Vindicise 
Priestleianse, who there expresses his entire approbation 
of it. All difficulties were at length surmounted : the 
remaining scruples of those who w r ere advocates for epi- 
scopal ordination gradually subsided % and the cause of the 
congregation continued to nourish under the auspices 
of this pious and exemplary preacher for upwards of 
twenty years. Since January 1809, Mr. now Dr. Free- 
man has been associated with a colleague, the Reverend 



* In tenderness to the prejudices of some worthy members of the con- 
gregation, a vote was passed by the Society, that Mr. Freeman's ordination 
should be confirmed by an episcopal imposition of hands, if it could be at 
any future time conveniently procured without sacrificing their own religi- 
ous sentiments. But a circumstance occurred shortly afterwards which 
contributed more effectually to overrule the scruples of those who were 
unsatisfied, than any thing which Mr, Freeman or his friends could say or 
write upon the subject. This was the ordination of a clergyman at Boston 
by Bishop Seabury. 

" If any prejudices remained upon the minds of my people in favour of 
episcopal ordination," says Mr. Freeman in a letter to Mr. Lindsey, dated 
October 15, 1/88, " what you say in your book, the Vindicise Priestleiance, 
would effectually remove them. But they are already cured of all prepos- 
sessions of that nature. I mentioned in a former letter, that Bishop Sea- 
bury had ordained a priest in Boston. The members of my congregation in 
general attended. They were so shocked with the sen-ice, particularly with 
that part where the bishop pretends to communicate the Holy Ghost and 
the power of forgiving sins, which he accompanied with the action of 
breathing on the candidate, that they now congratulate me upon having 
escaped what they consider as little short of blasphemy. Few of them had 
ever read, or at least attentively considered, the Ordination service. Since 
they have heard it, I have frequently been seriously asked by them, whether 
I would have submitted to so absurd a form. I confess that I am convinced 
I should have acted wrong if I had done it. I shudder when I reflect to 
what moral danger I exposed myself in soliciting ordination of the American 
bishops, for I certainly never believed that they had the power of conveying 
the Holy Spirit." 

Bishop Seabury might be, and probably was, a very honest man. How 
far his wisdom kept pace with his honesty, the following anecdote may as- 
sist the reader to judge. This venerable prelate, after having been invested, 
or imagined himself to be invested, with extraordinary powers by the ma- 
nual imposition of a few obscure priests in Scotland, when he had returned 
to Connecticut, wrote to Dr. Styles, the president of the college, the learned 



182 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IX. 



Samuel Cary, who, if we may judge by the specimen of 
his talents and spirit in the sermon which he delivered 
on the day of his ordination, and by the esteem and af- 
fection expressed in the charge of his revered associate, 
is worthy of the honourable situation which he occupies, 
and is well qualified to carry on the cause in wich his 
excellent colleague has been so long and so successfully 
engaged. May this holy cause continue to prosper in 
their hands, and when the chief Shepherd shall appear 
may they receive a crown of glory * ! 

As a further means of diffusing the important doc- 
trines of the proper Unity of God and the simple hu- 
manity of Jesus Christ, Mr. Lindsey made a present of 
his own and of Dr. Priestley's Theological Works to the 
library of Harvard College s in the University of Cam- 
bridge in New England ; for which, "as a very valuable 
and acceptable present," he received the thanks of the 
President and Fellows. These books were read with 
great avidity by the students. But though there is great 

friend and correspondent of Dr. Price, that it was his intention to he at the 
annual meeting of the Institution, but that he " hoped he should be re- 
ceived with proper distinction, and that his precedency would be allowed in 
the place allotted to him." To which the learned president sent back a 
courteous answer : " That they should be very glad to see Bishop Seabury, 
but that he could not promise him any such mark of distinction as he ex- 
pected. One thing, however, he could engage for and would assure him 
of, that he would meet with a hundred and ninety-one as good bishops as 
himself." 

* This sincere and ardent wish it was not the will of Providence to ratify. 
Mr. Gary's connexion with his affectionate flock and his revered colleague 
was of very short duration. In the autumn of 1815, he fell into a deep 
decline from a neglected cold ; and being advised to try a milder climate, he 
came to England with his wife in October. For a few days he appeared a 
little revived ; but the disorder soon returned with increased violence, and 
on Sunday October 22, he expired at Royston on his road to London, in the 
thirtieth year of his age. He was interred in the burial ground belonging 
to the Unitarian Chapel at Hackney, and the service by his particular de- 
sire was performed by the minister of Essex-street Chapel, who delivered a 
discourse upon the melancholy occasion the next Lord's day. Mrs. Cary, 
whose christian fortitude and pious resignation under this severe trial was 
the admiration of all her friends, returned to Boston in the spring. The 
removal of such a person as Mr. Cary, in the prime of life and in the midst 
of usefulness, is one of the unsearchable mysteries of divine Providence. 



en. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 183 

reason to believe that the seed thus sown took deep root, 
and that in many instances it produced a correspondent 
harvest ; and though many persons eminent for rank and 
talent in the New England States * openly avowed the 
Unitarian creed, it does not appear that any numerous 
societies of Christians have hitherto followed the exam- 
ple of the congregation at the King's Chapel in making 
a public profession of the Unitarian doctrine. 

In March 1792, an Unitarian congregation was formed 
at Portland, a considerable town of the district of Maine, 
in the north-eastern part of the State of Massachusetts. 
The worthy founder of this society was the Reverend 
Thomas Oxnard, a man of good talents, of sincere piety, 
and of ardent zeal, who had for some years officiated as 
minister of the episcopalian church at Portland, and who 
had been convinced of the truth of the Unitarian doc- 
trine by reading the works of Dr. Priestley and Mr. 
Lindsey, with which he had been supplied by his friend 
Mr. Freeman. Through the same means, and by the 
public and private instructions of this good man, in the 
course of a few years, many other persons of property 
and respectability of character embraced and avowed the 
same principles. " I cannot," says this worthy man in a 
letter dated November, 1788, ££ express to you the avi- 
dity with which these Unitarian publications are sought 
after. Our friends here are clearly convinced that the 
Unitarian doctrine will soon become the prevailing opi-> 

* " Governor Bowdoin," says Mr. Lindsey's worthy correspondent, <c is a 
critic in biblical learning. General Knox, one of the most distinguished 
officers in the late war, is an admirer of such authors as Edward Search. 
General Lincoln, our present worthy Lieutenant-governor, appears uniform- 
ly and openly the friend of those doctrines that you approve. There are 
many others besides, in our legislature, of similar sentiments. While sq 
many of our great men are thus on the side of truth and free inquiry, they 
will necessai'ily influence many of the common people. As we have no 
establishment to oppose, the same zeal which is felt in England cannot be 
expected in this country ; but rational Christianity will, I doubt not, make a. 
rapid though not very visible progress." This letter was written in 1/88, 



184 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[€H. IX. 



nion in this country; which must afford great pleasure 
to those good men Mr. Lindsey and Dr. Priestley. Three 
years ago I did not know a single Unitarian in this part 
of the country besides myself: and now, entirely from 
the various publications you have furnished, a decent so- 
ciety might be collected from this and the neighbouring 
towns. When you again write to Mr. Lindsey, you may 
assure him in the most positive terms that his and Dr. 
Priestley's publications have had, and probably will have, 
great effects in this part of the country ; which I am 
sure must afford him great satisfaction." 

Agreeably to this account, the doctrine of the proper 
Unity of God made a progress so rapid in the town and 
vicinage of Portland, that in the beginning of the year 
1792 an effort was made to introduce a reformed Liturgy 
into the episcopal church ; which being resisted by one 
or two leading members of the congregation, the Uni- 
tarians, who constituted a considerable majority of the 
society, seceded from the rest; and forming themselves 
into a separate church, they chose the Reverend Mr. 
Oxnard to be their minister ; and being denied the use 
of the episcopal chapel, they assembled for religious wor- 
ship at one of the public school-houses which was large 
and commodious, and where they carried on the worship 
of the One God with increasing popularity and success. 

About the same time another society for Unitarian 
worship was formed at Saco, a populous village about 
twenty miles distant from Portland, under the auspices 
of Mr. Thatcher, a gentleman of considerable property 
and of excellent character, who was repeatedly returned 
as representative in Congress for the northern district of 
the State of Massachusetts. Mr. Thatcher it is said was 
originally an unbeliever ; but possessing a candid and 
inquisitive mind, he became a very sincere and rational 
Christian in consequence of reading Dr. Priestley's 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 



185 



Works ; and, as Mr. Lindsey's correspondent expresses 
it, " the influence of our divine religion became very 
evident in his life and manners." This gentleman, by his 
conversation, his occasional publications, by lending 
Unitarian books, and by the great influence of his moral 
and religious character, contributed much to diffuse ra- 
tional and pure Christianity in the vicinity of his resi- 
dence, and formed at Saco a congregation of Unitarian 
Christians which was for some time connected with that 
at Portland, but afterwards became sufficiently numerous 
and respectable to maintain a separate minister. In 
England the spirit of the times is more liberal than the 
spirit of the laws. In America it is the reverse ; and the 
bigotry of individuals sometimes labours to counteract 
the unlimited freedom of faith and worship, which is. 
the glory of the Constitution of the United States. The 
active zeal of Mr. Thatcher, in promoting the worship 
of One God in opposition to unscriptural formularies 
and creeds, excited the malignant efforts of some of his 
bigoted neighbours to oppose his re-election to a seat in 
Congress. But the high character, the approved pa- 
triotism, and the distinguished talents of that honour- 
able gentleman secured him an easy triumph over the 
mean attacks of ignorance and envy, and he was again 
returned by a great majority. 

Upon the formation of the first Unitarian Society in 
the district of Maine, Mr. Lindsey's intelligent corre- 
spondent makes the following just and important obser- 
vations, in a letter dated May 21, 1792 : 

" I consider the establishment of this society as an 
event peculiarly favourable to the progress of Unitarian- 
ism in this country. The eastern division of this State, 
commonly called the province of Maine, of which Port- 
land is the capital, is one of the most flourishing parts of 
the United States. It is rapidly increasing in population 



186 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IX. 



and in wealth. Portland, which under the name of Fal- 
mouth was almost totally destroyed during the last war, 
has now become a large and respectable town, and bids 
fair in the course of half a century to rival Boston. Like 
other capital towns, it will probably influence the opi- 
nions of the surrounding country. It may be expected, 
therefore, that Unitarianism will grow with its growth, 
and be widely diffused. What favours this expectation 
is, that one of the ministers of the town, a very liberal 
and enlightened man, is upon very good terms with the 
Unitarian Society, and not disposed to discountenance 
them. In sentiment he professes to be a Sabellian. The 
other ministers in the neighbourhood are in general ig- 
norant, and some of them vicious. The consequence is, 
that there is less appearance of religion in the province 
of Maine than in any other part of New England. I have 
no doubt, therefore, that a number of Unitarians pos- 
sessing that purity of morals for which they are generally 
distinguished will have a great effect, not only in dif- 
fusing rational sentiments, but also in reforming the 
practice of their fellow-citizens. I give this not merely 
as my own opinion, but as the opinion of some gentle- 
men who are best informed in the State of the province 
of Maine. The establishment of a rational Christian 
society, and the happy changes which are to be expected 
in future, must, sir, in a great measure be ascribed to 
the books which you have sent over. What, therefore, 
must be your triumph when you reflect that you have en- 
lightened the minds of your fellow-christians, and that 
you will probably be the means of turning many to 
righteousness !" 

How far this worthy and ardent correspondent of Mr. 
Lindsey was warranted in the sanguine expectations he 
expresses of the success and beneficial effects of the 
Unitarian doctrine in the New England States, does not 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 187 

very distinctly appear. In 1788 he states to his venerable 
friend, that the Socinian scheme is less frightful than it 
was some years ago, and begins to have some public ad- 
vocates. The only minister, however, who then preached 
in favour of it was Mr. Bentley, of Salem, a fellow- 
collegian and intimate friend of the writer, who describes 
him as " a young man of a bold independent mind, of 
strong natural powers, and of more skill in the learned 
languages than any person of his years in the State." 
This gentleman had the good fortune to be connected 
with a congregation uncommonly liberal, who were not 
alarmed at any improvements, and who were pleased with 
the introduction of Bishop Lowth's translation of Isaiah, 
and of other improved translations of the prophetic 
Scriptures, in preference to the common English version, 
which was a liberty that few of the ministers in New 
England would be allowed to take. In 1793, Unitarianism 
remained at Portland in the state in which it had been 
settled the preceding year : but the clergy in the neigh- 
bourhood of Saco having passed a censure upon these 
opinions as unsound and heretical, the consequence of 
this attack was an able defence of the doctrine by its ad- 
vocates in that vicinage, and a subscription for building 
an Unitarian church. In the year 1794, the same re- 
spectable correspondent communicates to his venerable 
friend the progress which the doctrine and worship of the 
One true God, the Father, were making in the southern 
districts of the State of Massachusetts. " The counties 
of Plymouth, Barnstable, and Bristol, were the first part 
of New England settled by the English ; and till the 
year 1692, when they were annexed to Massachusetts, 
constituted a distinct province. The first settlers were 
a religious and industrious people, of more candid minds 
and less disposed to persecution than the settlers oi 
Massachusetts. Though the country is barren, yet it 



188 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[tH. IX. 



has become one of the most populous districts of the 
United States. The inhabitants are enlightened and vir- 
tuous. Crimes are unknown ; and there has not been a 
capital execution for upwards of sixty years. Such cha- 
racters are valuable acquisitions to the cause of truth. It 
must give you pleasure, therefore, to learn that two 
ministers, one in the county of Plymouth, and the other 
in the county of Barnstable, have lately come forward 
and openly opposed the doctrine of the Trinity. Their 
preaching has made a deep impression, and converts have 
been multiplied. In Barnstable county in particular, 
there is a very large body of Unitarians." 

This letter was written not long after the worthy writer 
had received intelligence of Mr. Lindsey's resignation of 
the pastoral office on account, not of declining health, 
but of advanced age ; and I cannot deny myself the grati- 
fication of transcribing Dr. Freeman's excellent and ju- 
dicious reflections upon that occasion : " I fervently pray, 
clear sir, that your health may long be preserved, and that 
your old age may be as happy as the meridian of your 
life has been active and useful. Yon now enjoy the fruits 
of your labours. You have reclaimed many from the 
errors of idolatry and superstition. You have diffused 
knowledge and truth not only in England but in America. 
But what is most to your honour, though you have 
displayed all the zeal of a reformer, yet you have pos- 
sessed none of that bitterness of spirit with which re- 
formers are too often infected. In your numerous works 
I find no harsh expressions or malignant censures. I con- 
template this part of your character with peculiar pleasure ; 
and though I am conscious I am frequently more angry 
with error and bigotry than a Christian ought to be, yet 
I ardently desire to imitate your candour and mildness of 
temper. Excuse this praise ; it is suggested to me by 
your two last excellent discourses." This is a high and 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY, 189 

at the same time a discriminating and justly merited 
eulogy, and must no doubt have been gratifying to the 
venerable person to whom it was addressed ; whose great 
humility would, however, lead him to disclaim in part, 
at least, his title to it. 

In. a letter dated May 24, 1796, the amiable and can- 
did writer expresses some little doubt, whether his zeal 
may not have induced him inadvertently to exaggerate 
the success of Unitarian principles in the United States ; 
and he endeavours to give a correct account of the actual 
state of the public mind upon this subject. As this is 
the last of Dr. Freeman's letters upon the state of Uni- 
tarianism in America which is in my possession, and as 
it contains a more general view of the case than he had 
before exhibited, I shall make no apology for the length 
of the extract : 

(i I consider it/' says this intelligent correspondent to 
his venerable friend, "as one of the most happy effects 
which have resulted from my feeble exertions in the 
Unitarian cause, that they have introduced me. to the 
knowledge and friendship of some of the most valuable 
characters of the present age ; men of enlightened heads, 
of pious and benevolent hearts ; ' quibuscum vivere 
amem, quibuscum obire libens.' 

" Though it is a standing article of most of our social 
libraries, that nothing of a controversial nature should 
be purchased, yet any book which is presented is freely 
accepted. I have found means, therefore, of introducing 
into them some of the Unitarian Tracts with which you 
have kindly furnished me. There are few persons who 
have not read them with avidity ; and when read, they 
cannot fail to make an impression upon the minds of 
many. From these and other causes, the Unitarian doc- 
trine appears to be still upon the increase. I am ac- 
quainted with a number of ministers, particularly in -the 



190 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. IX. 

southern part of this State, who avow and publicly 
preach this sentiment. There are others more cautious, 
who content themselves with leading their hearers by a 
course of rational but prudent sermons gradually and in- 
sensibly to embrace it. Though this latter mode is not 
what I entirely approve, yet it produces good effects. For 
the people are thus kept out of the reach of false opi- 
nions, and are prepared for the impressions which will be 
made on them by more bold and ardent successors,, who 
will probably be raised up when these timid characters 
are removed off the stage. In the eastern part of this 
State, or what is called the district of Maine, the Uni- 
tarian doctrine also makes progress, as I have just been 
informed by a worthy and judicious minister from that 
quarter. The clergy are generally the first who begin to 
speculate : but the people soon follow, where they are so 
much accustomed to read and inquire. 

" In the accounts which I give you of the state of re- 
ligious opinions in this country, I always endeavour not 
to exaggerate, sensible that every zealous man (and I 
confess that I am zealous) is naturally disposed to rate 
his own party as highly as he can. It is possible that 
Unitarianism may be losing ground in one quarter while 
it is gaining it in another, and that I may not perceive or 
may not attend to the former. Indeed, I confess and 
lament that the opinion is scarcely known in the largest 
part of this vast republic. It flourishes chiefly in New 
England ; but not much in Connecticut, Rhode Island, 
New Hampshire, and the western counties of Massa- 
chusetts. A few seeds have been sown in Vermont, and 
an abundant harvest has been produced in the vicinity 
of Boston and the counties directly south of it. In 
Pennsylvania, much may be expected from the labours 
of Dr. Pries tley." 

It was in the year 1796 that this letter was written ; 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 191 



and though it cannot reasonably be doubted that the im- 
portant doctrines of the unrivalled supremacy and sole 
worship of the Father, and of the proper humanity of 
Jesus Christ, have since that time been gradually ad- 
vancing in a country so favourable to freedom of inquiry; 
yet it may justly be questioned whether the progress of 
truth has been quite so rapid, visible, or extensive, as 
the zeal of this ingenuous and ardent lover of truth 
prompted him to expect. Dr. Priestley's personal mi- 
nistry in the United States was attended with very lit- 
tle apparent success. In Northumberland, where he re- 
sided, he collected but few proselytes ; and in Philadel- 
phia, where the chapel in which he preached was at first 
crowded with the principal characters in the United 
States, he was afterwards for some reason or other al- 
most deserted. Yet here his labours were not wholly 
ineffectual. Since Dr. Priestley's decease a small but 
highly respectable congregation has been formed, in 
which, till a regular minister can be procured, a few of 
the most intelligent and best informed members conduct 
the service by turns ; and the society, upon the whole, 
is increasing, though some who once professed zeal in 
the cause have turned their backs upon it. The Uni- 
tarians in Philadelphia have erected a chapel for religious 
worship, to which many of different persuasions contri- 
buted liberally. 

Another Unitarian congregation has been formed at 
Oldenbarneveld, a new settlement in the back country 
of the State of New York, under the patronage of Co- 
lonel Mappa, a gentleman of a truly respectable cha- 
racter, and of considerable property and influence in 
that district, aided by the exertions of the Rev. Frederic 
Adrian Vanderkemp, a learned and pious emigrant from 
Holland, whose zeal for the doctrine of the Divine 
Unity has exposed him to many difficulties and priva- 



192 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IX. 



tions. This church was, for a few years, under the 
pastoral inspection of the Reverend John Sherman, who 
in the year 1805 was dismissed, on account of his Uni- 
tarian principles, from his office as minister of the first 
church at Mansfield in Connecticut, where he had offi- 
ciated upwards of eight years with great and increasing 
acceptance and success. Of the circumstances which 
led to this separation, and of the inquisitorial spirit 
which was exerted against him by the bigoted clergy 
in his neighbourhood, he published a plain and affect- 
ing account, a copy of which now lies before me. And 
if some expressions of irritation have escaped him, which 
it would perhaps have been better to omit, it requires 
but little charity to make allowance for them where the 
provocation was so great and unmerited. 

This gentleman, in consequence of an attentive per- 
usal of the works of Mr. Lindsey and Dr. Priestley, be- 
came a sincere and zealous convert to the doctrine of the 
proper Unity and sole Supremacy of God, to the simple 
humanity of Jesus Christ, and to the appropriation of 
religious worship to the Father only, A doctrine of such 
high importance, and so materially differing from the 
popular creed, he justly conceived it to be his duty to 
avow and teach 1 * . And in the first place, he com muni - 



* This worthy confessor's plain and artless narrative of the feelings of his 
mind upon this occasion is well deserving of being here transcribed, and may 
it make a due impression upon all who are placed in similar circumstances 
and called out to similar trials ! 

„ " Settled," says he, " in the sentiment that God is one person only, and 
that Jesus Christ is a being distinct from God, dependent upon him for his 
existence and all his powers, I was involved in much trial and perplexity of 
mind with respect to the course which duty required me to pursue. I was 
aware of the prejudices of my brethren in the ministry, and foresaw that, 
should my sentiments be made public, they would certainly exert themselves 
to destroy my ministerial and christian standing ; that my standing with the 
people of my charge, whose confidence I was so happy as to possess, would 
be endangered, if not by their own prejudices, yet by the influence and exer- 
tions of others ; and, considering the state of the American churches, that I 
could hardly expect an invitation to minister to any people on this side of the 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



193 



cated his change of sentiments to the congregation with 
which he was connected; when, to his great surprise and 
satisfaction, he found that, with a single exception, they 
were all earnestly desirous that he should continue his 
connexion with them, and that each should quietly allow 
to others the right of private judgement In this and every 
other case. This however did not satisfy his clerical 
brethren, with whom, as residing in the neighbourhood, 
he had joined in a voluntary association. Being duly In - 
formed by Deacon Southworth, the dissatisfied member 
before alluded to, of his reverend pastor's departure from 
the faith, they first in a formal session, held in October 
3 804, excluded him from their society, and disavowed 
ministerial connexion With him. And in this measure 
was no injustice; for the associated ministers had as good 

Atlantic. Poverty, a diminution of my usefulness, and the unhappy condi- 
tion of my beloved family, stared me in the face, and conjured me to be si- 
lent respecting my opinions. 

(C On the other hand I considered that, having avowed different sentiments, 
at my Ordination, it could not be reconciled to a frank and open honesty to 
allow the world to be deceived as to my real belief; — that it is the duty of 
the minister of the -Gospel to instruct men in the knowledge of its important 
doctrines ; — that I was accountable to God for my conduct in this matter, 
who requires of stewards that a man be found faithful, and who certainly 
must desire his people to be acquainted with the truth, or he would never 
have revealed it 5 — that no reformation from prevailing errors could take 
place, if those who are acquainted with the truth should, through the fear; 
of persecution, conceal it from public view ; — -and, finally, that it is base, and 
unbecoming the dignity of man, in this 19th century of the Christian asra, in 
this land of liberty and free inquiry, to bow down to popular absurdities and 
superstitions, and quietly to abandon the unalienable right of private judge- 
ment. These considerations determined me to put all temporal things at 
hazard, and to place my trust in that wise Providence which had always been 
kind, and which will either deliver us from the evil, or inspire us with forti- 
tude to endure it," Upon these generous and pious principles did this Chris- 
tian confessor act throughout the whole of this arduous conflict ; and how- 
ever his ignorant and malignant persecutors might injure his good name, and 
deprive him and his family of the comforts of society, and leave them desti- 
tute of the necessaries of life, they could not rob him of the inestimable trea- 
sure of an approving conscience. How rapidly and extensively must the 
cause of Christian truth prevail, if all who were convinced of it possessed the 
fortitude and zeal of Mr. Sherman! But this is an elevation of character to 
which every one cannot attain. Different persons have different gifts, and 
are called to different duties. Let every one judge impartially for himself, 
and candidly for others. 

O 



194 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



fpH. IX, 



a right to judge of the truth and importance of their opi- 
nions as Mr. Sherman of his. But the zeal of these pious 
inquisitors did not stop here : they wrote an official let- 
ter to the church at Mansfield, stating, that they had 
judged it to be their duty to withdraw from their hereti - 
cal brother their own ministerial connexion, and pretty 
plainly intimating their expectation that the society would 
follow their example, and dismiss their pastor, who stood 
convicted by his own confession of many capital errors. 
This advice, though treated with merited neglect by a 
majority of the church, nevertheless made a considerable 
impression upon a small number of feeble-minded mem- 
bers, who in April 1 805 addressed a letter to the vene- 
rable Association, expressing their dissatisfaction with 
their worthy pastor for denying, as they express it, that 
<s the man Christ Jesus is truly and properly God which, 
say they, "is a doctrine which we cannot be persuaded 
to give up but with the Bible which contains it." And 
they further profess that " the doctrine of a trinity of 
persons in the Godhead, as held by Calvinistic divines 
for ages, is a doctrine clearly taught in the holy Scrip- 
tures ;" and that, " however mysterious and incompre- 
hensible, it lies at the very basis of Christianity." Under 
these difficulties they implore the advice of the reverend 
Association. But notwithstanding all the activity of 
Deacon South worth, and the artifices and intrigues of 
some bigots in the neighbourhood, only ten signatures 
could be procured to this address. Such however was 
the eagerness of the venerable body, and such their zeal 
to exterminate heresy, that they immediately directed an 
answer to be sent to the complainants, advising them to 
have recourse to a Council or Consociation, which is an 
ecclesiastical court consisting of ministers and messen- 
gers, and invested by law with great and indefinite powers. 
But as the Consociation was to consist in a great mea- 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHlLUS LINDSEY. 195 



sure of the same ministers of whom the Association was 
formed, who had already prejudged the cause, and as the 
congregation at Mansfield had never acknowledged the 
jurisdiction of this court, they rejected the advice with 
the contempt it deserved. Nevertheless, as this worthy 
confessor saw that his unrelenting adversaries were de- 
termined to pursue every possible method to disturb the 
peace of the society, and to accomplish his ruin^ and be- 
ing desirous of preventing the disastrous consequences 
of religious discord, he came to the resolution of resign- 
ing his pastoral office. This resolution he communi- 
cated to his friends ; and at his desire the church and con- 
gregation concurred with him in inviting, according to 
the custom of the country, a Mutual Council of respect- 
able ministers to give their advice in the case, and, if 
they should judge it expedient, to grant Mr. Sherman 
an honourable dismission and recommendation. 

This council assembled in October 1805., and Mr. 
Sherman first stated his case, and the reasons which led 
him to wish to resign his connexion with the congrega* 
tion at Mansfield. After which a deputation from the 
church, that is, from the communicants*, were heard on 

* It may not perhaps be known to the generality of readers, that in the 
Strict independent form of church government, the whole power of ecclesi- 
astical discipline, the entire management of the property, and the sole right 
of choosing or dismissing a minister, is vested in the church, that is, in the 
body of communicants, of those who have been admitted into the communion 
of that church in particular, according to its prescribed forms, or who have 
been received by regular dismission from other churches. Mere subscribers 
have no vote, however numerous and opulent. Mr. Howard the celebrated 
philanthropist Was the richest member and the most liberal supporter of the 
congregation at Bedford ; he also joined statedly in communion with the 
"church : but not having been regularly admitted into the church, he was 
only regarded as an occasional communicant ; and in the choice of a minister 
ttot the least attention was paid to his expressed opinion and desire, and a 
minister was chosen who was by no means acceptable to him. 

In Northamptonshire I recollect another instance in which a venerable 
minister of irreproachable character of most amiable manners and unim* 
peached orthodoxy, was dismissed from his office by the church under some 
trifling pretence, in opposition to the sense of by far the most respectable 
part of the congregation. His friends appealed to a court of law to reinstate 
their respected minister in his office. But Lord Mansfield, who, whatever 

o 2 



196 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IX, 



their own behalf ; who stated, that though the discon- 
tented party did not constitute more than one third of 
the church, yet they plainly perceived that their design 
was first to exclude their pastor, and then to excommu- 
nicate their brethren. That, in order to prevent this 
schism, they had offered to the complainants either that 
they should remain unmolested with the majority ; or, 
that the majority, for the sake of peace, should dismiss 
their pastor, in order to remain unmolested with them ; 
or, if this would not satisfy their opponents, Mr. Sher- 
man's friends would retain and maintain their own mi- 
nister, and let the discontented party have theirs. This 
concession however, liberal as it was, did not satisfy the 
dissidents. Lastly, a deputation from the congregation 
were heard before the Council, who stated, that not less 
than nine-tenths of the society were well satisfied w ith 
their minister, and had no desire to part with him, or to 
restrain him in his inquiries. " Being," as they express 
it, " tenacious of the right of private judgement, they 
wish to indulge their minister in the same : neither would 



might be his political delinquencies, was a most liberal and impartial judge 
in all cases in which the rights of Protestant Dissenters were concerned, de- 
manded to see the writings of the place ; and finding that they vested the 
communicants with the discretionary power of choosing aud deposing a mi- 
nister, he dismissed the cause immediately, and the worthy veteran M as 
obliged to resign his claims. Another chapel however was provided for him, 
where he continued to officiate, and was supported by his friends as long as 
he lived. 

In America, it is presumed that where the Independent form of church 
government prevails this principle is in general maintained. But in Connec- 
ticut they have strangely deviated from the original freedom of the separate 
churches, by the institution of what is called the Consociation, a sort of spi- 
ritual court, which was established in Connecticut in the beginning of the 
last century. This court has power to interfere " upon all occasions eccle- 
siastical," and its censures are authorised and supported by the civil power. 
Each Consociation consists of ministers and messengers from every congre- 
gation which belongs to it. But no congregation is compelled to join it. As 
far as its power extends it is properly a court of Inquisition ; and in some 
cases the members have discovered too much of an inquisitorial spirit. — 
N.B. 1820, it is said that in consequence of the popular party having gained 
the ascendancy in the State of Connecticut, these inquisitorial courts have 
been put down. 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEV. ] 9/* 

they wish that he should act the hypocrite to gain the 
approbation of any man : and they apprehend that, in 
case Mr. Sherman is dismissed, the society will soon be 
found in a most unhappy situation, not likely to be set- 
tled with another minister for many years." 

Notwithstanding however these strong facts, this 
noble profession, and this conciliatory spirit, the prudent 
Council proceed, as a matter of expediency, to dismiss 
Mr. Sherman from his connexion with the society : and 
while they bear honourable testimony to his character 
and talents, and "recommend him to the kind reception 
of those who may see fit to employ him," they cautiously 
subjoin, that they " do not consider themselves as giving 
their approbation of Mr. Sherman's peculiar phraseology 
or circumstantial difference of sentiment on the subject 
of the Trinity." And in their subsequent advice to Mr. 
Sherman they admonish him to 6 6 guard against a bold 
spirit of speculation, and an inordinate love of novelty." 

It is not a little curious to contrast those differences 
of opinion which this venerable Council coolly describes 
under the soft expressions of peculiar phraseology and a 
circumstantial difference of sentiment. The man whom 
they gravely caution against a bold spirit of speculation 
and inordinate love of novelty, asserts the doctrine, that 
there is One God, the sole object of religious worship, 
and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ 
Jesus, who is the prophet and messenger of God. While 
his orthodox opponents, to accommodate whom the 
Council think it expedient to dismiss their exemplary 
pastor, maintain as a doctrine essential to salvation, and 
which they " can never give up but with the Bible which 
contains it," that " the man Jesus is truly and properly 
God." Is the venerable Council serious in stating dif- 
ferences so glaring and so substantial as these, as nothing 
more than a " peculiar phraseology," and a M circum- 



198 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IX, 



stantial difference of sentiment? No! No! Opinions 
such as these can no more harmonize with each other 
than light and darkness, than Christ and Belial. They 
who hold doctrines so diametrically opposite cannot be 
fellow-worshipers in the same temple. It was expedient 
that they should separate. So far the Council judged 
right. But the difficulty lies in discovering the expedi- 
ence., the justice^ the common sense of making the 
greater submit to the less; in deciding in opposition to 
the declared principles and wishes of two-thirds of the 
church and nine- tenths of the congregation. It is not 
to be doubted that the members of this Council were 
upright and honourable men. But as the case now 
stands it is impossible to approve of their decision. Why 
is the majority to be sacrificed to the minority? — -Why 
is the upright conscientious inquirer after truth to fall a 
victim to bigotry, ignorance, and intolerance? This 
surely is a miserable way of promoting either truth or 
^peace. So the members of this truly respectable but 
too timid and cautious Council have themselves seen 
reason to acknowledge ; and one of them at least has 
amply redeemed his character, and has himself very 
lately become a fellow-sufferer in the cause of truth*. 



* This gentleman is the Rev. Abiel Abbot, late pastor of the first church 
in -Coventry in the state of Connecticut, where he was settled in February 
17^5, and continued to exercise his ministry peaceably and acceptably for 
fifteen years. In February 1810 some of the members of his church disco- 
vered in their worthy pastor symptoms of heresy, and after some discussion 
the church applied for advice to the Association which assembled in October, 
who again refeiTed them to the Consociation which assembled in April 1811. 
The Consociation summoned the worthy pastor to reply to the charge : , but 
Mr. Abbot protested against their jurisdiction ; neither himself, nor the 
church of which he was pastor, nor the congregation having ever joined the 
Consociation, or acknowledged its authority. The society likewise entered 
a similar protest. The Consociation however, nothing daunted, voted its 
own competency and authority, and in their way proceeded to examine the 
merits of the case ; the result of which was, that the Rev. Abiel Abbot does 
neither preach nor believe the doctrine of the sacred Trinity ; — that he does 
neither preach nor believe the divinity of Jesus Christ; — that he does 
neither preach nor believe the doctrine of the atonement by the blood of 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 199 

Mr. Sherman being thus dismissed from a con- 
gregation where he had passed eight years in harmony 
and usefulness, now found himself cast out upon the 
world destitute almost of the necessaries of life, and 



Christ, nor of justification by his imputed righteousness; — and thatdoctrines 
contrary to these, and subversive of the Christian's faith and hope, are by 
him taught and inculcated. Voted, That the man who neither believes nor 
preaches the doctrine specified, is disqualified for the office of the Gospel 
ministry; for he has essentially renounced the Scriptures, has made ship- 
wreck of faith, has denied the Messiah, &c. The Council therefore feel 
themselves required by Jesus Christ, the great God and Saviour, &c. to de- 
clare, and they hereby do declare, that the ministerial relation between the 
Rev. A. A. and the first church at Coventry ought to be and is dissolved, &c. 

Such at the commencement of the nineteenth century was the language, 
and such were the extravagant claims, of an assembly of Protestant Christian 
ministers assuming the title of the Consociation of the county of Tolland in. 
the State of Connecticut. Neither the Fathers of the Council of Trent, nor 
those of Nice, nor of any intervening Council, whether General or Special, 
ever pretended to higher authority, nor made a bolder claim to inspiration 
or infallibility. 

Mr. Abbot however, and his friends, the great majority of his society, not 
feeling themselves inclined to submit to the dictates of the inspired Council, 
resolved that the unwarranted censure of the Consociation should have no 
effect upon their mutual connexion; and he still continued to officiate among 
them as before. Nevertheless, to guard on the one hand against the inter- 
position of the secular arm, and on the other to testify his respect to the 
Council itself, the members of which were individually respectable, this 
amiable and persecuted confessor thought it advisable to invite a mutual 
Council of grave and learned divines from the State of Massachusetts to 
deliberate how far it was his duty to respect the decision of the Tolland 
Consociation. The very sensible and pious answer of Dr, Osgood, who de- 
clined attending, contains many very just and pertinent observations. "For 
myself," says he, <e I have little faith in, or respect for, Ecclesiastical 
Councils. I have long thought them unauthorised in Scripture, and for the 
most part worse than useless, excepting as mere referees or arbiters mutu- 
ally chosen by parties at variance to settle their disputes." Speaking of the 
censure of the Consociation, he adds, " It is indeed a most extraordinary 
procedure in this land of republican liberty, where all Ecclesiastical Esta- 
blishments are explicitly disclaimed. This consideration, however, assures 
you, that though the tongues and pens of Ecclesiastical Councils be as free 
and unrestrained as those of any other description of citizens, yet they have 
no power to execute their decrees ; and you have no more reason to tremble 
at the anathemaof the Consociation of Tolland county, than at a bull of the 
Roman Pontiff. It might therefore, perhaps, be advisable to let it pass with 
as little notice ; suffering it to have no other effect than to render you g, 
better christian and a better man." 

These are the observations and advice of a wise and good man; which 
perhaps it would have been most prudent to have followed. The Mutual 
Council, however, convened by Mr. Abbot and his friends, assembled at 
Coventry on the 5th of June 1811, the venerable Dr. Lathrop in the chair; 
and after due deliberation they conclude that te the Consociation had no right 
to dissolve the connexion between the pastor and the society, the great ma- 



200 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. IX, 



under the ban of a powerful party, who were determined 
to the utmost to obstruct his future exertions, and to 
drive him from the ministry. Happily, though the will 
was good, the power was wanting. The pastor and the 
congregation appear to have regarded it as their duty to 
acquiesce in the decision of the Council, however pain- 
ful : and in an affecting address which was presented by 
the society to Mr. Sherman, they express their deep 
regret at the unexpected dissolution of their connexion, 
when they most wished for its continuance,— when they 
laost wanted his ministerial services and friendly counsels, 
—and when he stood highest in their esteem, and had 
engaged their warmest affections. This address was 
voted November 12, 1805, and the answer to it is dated 
from Oldenbarheveld, January 1, 1806. Mr. Sherman's 
talents were not suffered to remain long unemployed ; 
and he appears almost immediately after his dismission 
to have been invited to undertake the pastoral charge of 
the small congregation which had been collected chiefiy 
by the labours of the excellent Adrian Vanderkemp. 
And to enable him to remove his family to this distance 

jority of whom manifest a warm attachment to his person and ministry; bat 
that from considerations of expediency they do dissolve it, and declare that 
it is dissolved accordingly." Thus again we see the sacred cause of Christian 
truth sacrificed to a mean and temporizing policy; and the faithful champion 
of truth, the amiable, useful, and beloved pastor torn from his weeping 
flock, and consigned to poverty and solitude for the sake of preserving a 
hollow, deceitful, temporary peace. But this cannot last long; nor can such 
a measure be approved by the great Head of the Church. Of this strange 
event the virtuous sufferer has published a fair aud interesting narrative, 
which is written with a temper and spirit truly Christian. " I will bring," 
says he, " no railing accusation. The men from whom I have differed, I 
Lave loved : the men from whom I have suffered, I have respected ; and to 
none am I conscious, to this hour, of feeling an unfriendly sentiment. From 
the heart I wish them grace, mercy, and peace." It is however but justice 
to the members of this perhaps too cautious Council, to add, that they do 
not presume to judge of the faith of their unfortunate brother; that they 
express the highest respect for his moral character, and that they cordially 
recommend him to the pastoral office in some other church. And if there 
be, as I am sure there is, a love of truth, virtue, and liberty, in the New 
England States, this able, honest, and pious sufferer for truth will not be 
suffered to remain long in silence and seclusion. 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



201 



he received a very handsome pecuniary present from his 
friends at Mansfield, which he acknowledges with warm 
gratitude. At last this respectable society seems to have 
roused itself from its slumber, and to have taken the 
step which it might have been expected that their affec- 
tion would have dictated immediately upon their worthy 
pastor s dismission. The church and the congregation 
invite him to resume the pastoral office at Mansfield. 
This invitation was dated December 19, but it was then 
too late. A scene of greater usefulness had, in his esti- 
mation, opened before him, and to this consideration 
he regarded it as his duty to sacrifice personal gratifica- 
tion and social enjoyment. But, in his reply to this ap- 
plication, he introduces a very judicious summary of the 
evidence of the Unitarian doctrine, and concludes with 
expressing his grateful sense of the kindness of his friends, 
and with a very impressive address to the youth of the 
congregation*. For some years afterwards Mr. Sherman 
remained at Oldenbarneveld; and in a letter to Mrs. 
Lindsey, dated November 5, 1807, the worthy Mr. Van- 
derkemp expresses himself thus favourably of the exer- 
tions and success of his respected coadjutor: 

* The conclusion of this worthy confessor's address to the youth of his late 
congregation at Mansfield is so excellent, that no apology can be necessary 
for inserting it. 

" To the great question in dispute undoubtedly your minds are also 
directed. The subject is of primary importance, and demands your serious 
and attentive consideration. Surely you ought to know whether you are to 
be the worshipers of Three Gods, or of One God only. Let me exhort you 
to search the Scriptures diligently on this point, and see whether they teach 
you that three divine persons, three distinct moral agents, make, when added 
together, only one individual being. Should the result of your investigation 
comport with the doctrine which I h&ve taught you from the Scriptures, I 
wish you may be duly impressed with the importance of openly avowing it, 
and appearing as its advocates ; that as you rise into public life you will 
never be ashamed of the interesting truth, but boldly and faithfully stand in 
its defence, though the multitude should be against you. Let your zeal, 
however, be well tempered with Christian charity. Be moderate and can- 
did, liberal and catholic, in your treatment of those who may differ. Above 
all, always remember that the best orthodoxy is a faithful observance of the 
sacred precepts of that One God, whom you profess and acknowledge." 



202 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IX, 



" It must fill Mr. Lindsey s heart with gladness that 
his labours are blessed here in the wilderness, through 
the means of those whom he enlightened and confirmed 
in the gospel doctrine by his writings. Our pastor with 
his amiable and worthy wife has the greatest reason for 
gratitude to the Divine Being, being beloved, respected, 
and useful in spreading religious knowledge far and 
wide. Our situation, in a religious point of view 7 , is 
very gratifying. Notwithstanding, our pastor has to 
struggle with furious bigotry and ignorant superstition, 
which blacken his character and slander his innocence, 
while infidelity has her adherents through the whole 
country. That kind of writings are spread every where, 
and peddled round the country by hawkers in the wil- 
derness, sometimes under spurious titles. Volney and 
Paine and Hollis are found in miserable cots and hovels, 
while it is often difficult to meet the sacred Scriptures, 
This evil has been nursed through the misconduct of 
high-flying Calvinist teachers in New England, in choos- 
ing their missionaries from the most stupid and bigoted ; 
perhaps from necessity : while men of talents among 
them decline the task. It is therefore not surprising 
that our pastor is heard with delight wherever there re- 
mains any claim to virtue and religion. His plain affa- 
ble manners, his energetic manner of preaching, his vast 
superiority over his antagonists in disputes whenever 
they attack him, increase his influence every day. He 
preaches in the week twenty miles round, and is sanguine 
in his expectations that he shall form another society 
twelve miles from hence. Few weeks are passing in 
which some one or other of the vicinity do not join our 
church, and those by far the most respectable among 
them. Disney's Tracts and Seddon's Sermons have ope- 
rated a great deal of good : so too have the works of my 
worthy friend, who now ere long shall receive the glo* 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 203 

nous reward of his labours. Our minister has instituted 
a school of moral instruction, in which every subject of 
natural and revealed religion is discussed freely." 

In a letter dated April 1 809, Mr. Vanderkemp writes 
in a less sanguine, yet not altogether discouraging strain. 
" The Gospel cause gains slowly here and at Philadel- 
phia. We have at length succeeded to re-engage our 
worthy minister," who it should seem was about to leave 
them for want of necessary support for his family. " His 
ministerial labours are not in vain. Well supplied with 
a tolerable library, he has seen it enlarged, by Mr. J. 
Priestley and Mr. J. Taylor from Philadelphia, by some 
valuable additions. He deserves fully this encourage- 
ment. His talents are bright : his sermons are plain and 
persuasive ; his prayers devout and ardent ; — and his con- 
duct struck his slanderers dumb." 

Unfortunately, whether it were owing to the inability 
of the congregation at Oldenbarneveld to raise an ade- 
quate income for the support of their worthy pastor ; or 
whether, as is often the case with persons of genius, and 
whose minds are devoted to intellectual pursuits, there 
might be on his part too little attention paid to cecono- 
mical arrangements ; in the next account we learn that 
Mr. Sherman was under the necessity of dissolving his 
connexion with this society, and that the flock was at 
that time left without a shepherd, and in a state by no 
means encouraging. " The best that I can say about 
our situation is," says the excellent Mr. Vanderkemp, 
in a letter to Mrs. Lindsey, dated August 1810, " that 
we are in a very torpid state. Since March we have no 
minister. Though a few doubled their subscriptions, 
though twice we took the defalcations of others on our 
account, we could not raise a sum adequate to his sala- 
ry : so the connexion was dissolved, to our great grief 
and the irreparable loss of this community. We have 



204 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. IX. 

resolved, however, and continue steadfastly our religious 
meetings. Some of us have engaged to read in turns ; 
so that we are edified sometimes by Clarke and Tillot- 
son, sometimes by Blair, and sometimes by Lindsey, 
Priestley, Price, and Toulmin."* 

Of the present state of the Unitarian doctrine in the 
district (now the state) of Maine, the author of this Me- 
moir is not informed. Whether the congregation at 
Portland collected by the worthy Mr. Oxnard, or that 
at Saco, under the patronage of the truly excellent Mr. 
Thatcher, still exist, or in what state they now are, he 
has not heard. At Hallowell the first families in the 
place are in their principles decidedly Unitarian ; and it 
is hoped that they will find some opportunity of erect- 
ing an altar to the One God, and that by the powerful 
influence of instruction and example they will diffuse 
the blessings of rational religion in a district which, 
under their auspices, is rapidly rising into opulence and 
distinction. 

In the State of Massachusetts, and particularly in the 
environs of Boston, the great cause of Christian truth is 
making a silent but rapid and irresistible progress. From 
the inquisitive and liberal spirit which prevails in the 
University of Cambridge, which has never been checked 
at any time, but which there is reason to expect will 
receive every requisite aid and encouragement from the 
present learned and accomplished Principal Dr. Kirkiand, 
the happiest consequences may be expected to ensue. 

* In a letter which I received from Mr. Sherman, dated Oldenbarneveld, 
August 25, 1818, he states that his sole reason for resigning his connexion 
with the congregation, was the necessity of providing for a large and grow- 
ing family. He now keeps a flourishing academical school, by the profits 
of which his circumstances have been retrieved : and he expresses a hope 
that, if life be spared, he may again be called to preach the Gospel of the 
grace of God. Mr. S. likewise states, in justification of the Council at Mans- 
field, that it was at his own desire that he was dismissed ; — this fact, how- 
ever, should have been more clearly stated in his publication. 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 205 



The edition of Griesbach's Greek Testament with se- 
lect various readings, and with the accurate and laborious 
author's latest corrections, a copy of which was procured 
in Germany by the late reverend, learned, and eloquent 
Joseph S. Buekminster, which under his inspection was 
elegantly and correctly reprinted in America as a text- 
book for the students of Harvard College, cannot Fail to 
contribute essentially to the true interpretation of the 
Sacred Oracles. And a large and beautiful impression 
of the Improved Version with the Notes, published by my 
intelligent, learned, and valuable friend and correspondent 
Mr. W. Wells, of Boston, whose zeal for truth is be- 
yond all praise, will, it is hoped, contribute to the better 
understanding of difficult and doubtful passages in holy 
writ. The Monthly Anthology, the General Repository, 
and of late the Christian Disciple, and other valuable 
periodical publications conducted by gentlemen of di- 
stinguished talents and liberality, tend very much to dif- 
fuse a spirit of inquiry. Bigotry is discountenanced ; 
and divine worship in many of the principal churches 
at Boston is carried on upon principles strictly, if not 
avowedly Unitarian*. Being myself a friend to inge- 



* A very correct, certainly, not a partial account of the present state of 
professed Unitarianism in the State of the Massachusetts, and particularly 
in Boston, has lately been published in the Monthly Repository for March 
and April 1812, in a letter addressed by my highly esteemed friend the 
Reverend Francis Parkman, of Boston, to the Reverend John Grundy, in 
reply to a flattering account of the state of Unitarianism in Boston and its 
vicinity, contained in the Appendix to Mr. Grundy's eloquent Disccurse at the 
opening of a new place of worship at Liverpool. This account appears to have 
been, communicated to my worthy friend by some person whose zeal in a 
good cause led him to see the objects of his wish in rather toe favourable a 
light. See Appendix, No. X. 

The following extract from a letter written by a minister in America to 
h?3 friend in England, dated October 1810, though somewhat long, will, it is 
hoped, be found both entertaining and important ; it will throw much light 
upon the state of religion in Boston, and may give rise to some useful re- 
flections, 

" In my return home I spent the Sabbath at Templeton, and I preached 
twice. There arc not more than forty or fifty families near the meeting 
but they come in all directions from the woods and mountains in such num- 



206 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. IX; 

nuousness and candour, I could wish to see all who are 
truly Unitarians openly such, and to teach the doctrine 

bers, as to make all together a goodly company. There being in almost 
every parish, especially in Massachusetts and Connecticut, a settled minister 
always of good morals, and generally of real piety, to administer divine or- 
dinances to them and lead them in the way of truth and duty, can scarcely 
fail having a good influence upon the people at large, in preserving them 
from that gross ignorance and grievous profligacy so prevalent in many coun- 
tries that are called Christian. Nothing would satisfy my son but I must, 
whilst in Boston, have my picture drawn : this cut up my time so very much 
that I could not attend so many of their private meetings as I otherwise 
should. It was the general election for the State ; the Democrats gained the 
ascendancy. I heard the Election Sermon preached by Dr. P., a very warm 
Federalist. He made it his business to expose the nefarious proceedings of 
the opposite party, in truth, a most copious subject; and was heard by the 
people in the galleries with high approbation, and almost clapping. The 
Convention Sermon (i. e. the sermon preached before the general Assembly 
of Ministers) was preached by Dr. Porter. Full two hundred ministers were 
in town. Their public business is transacted in the Court House. The 
Convention has no ecclesiastical authority. Their proceedings and resolu- 
tions are merely advisory, but are not without considerable effect. The 
principal thing that came before them was a complaint against some Mission* 
aries for going into parishes where there were settled ministers, holding 
meetings without their knowledge, and even in opposition to their advice. 
The conduct of the Missionaries was highly disapproved. The Monday after 
the General Election for the State, there is always a sermon preached to the 
Artillery Company. Mi*. L., I was informed, gave them an excellent dis- 
course, but I did not hear it. I went to the Meeting door, but the crowd 
was so great that I did not go in. The two Legislative Bodies, the Go- 
vernor, and a number of the principal Gentlemen and Clergy, after the ser- 
vice was over, dined at Fanuel Hall, a large building over the market-house, 
where they have their town meetings and transact their town business. Mr. 
Jackson the late British minister was there. I was invited to dine with 
them, but declined it. I was, however, introduced to Mr. Jackson at his 
lodgings, and once dined with him at Mr. B.'s. Mrs. Jackson with four 
other ladies were there, the rest of the party were gentlemen, about thirty 
in all. We had a splendid entertainment. Two courses of all the delicacies 
money could procure. Among the rest a dish of green peas, the first brought 
to market, which, the papers said, cost four dollars a bushel. The Bosto- 
nians paid Mr. Jackson great attention, and were much pleased with his 
behaviour while among them. I preached for Dr. E. Mr. B. Mr. L. and 
Mr. F. at the Stone chapel. The last-mentioned gentleman was never epi- 
scopally ordained ; of course, the ministers who have been so never exchange 
with him. In his place the Governor used to worship when the State was 
a British colony. It is a large stone building, just like an English church. 
The other three are large and costly buildings, and have numerous assem- 
blies meet in them. The galleries were designed principally for Negroes ; 
but there is now a meeting built for the Africans to worship in by them- 
selves. A mulatto minister preache3 to them. There are said to be eleren 
or twelve hundred people of colour in the town. It was Communion day at 
Mr. B.'s ; there were about one hundred and fifty communicants. At Dr. E.'s 
there must have been two hundred. Never did I see such a display of plate 
on the Communion Table. At Dr. E.'s there were five or six flagons which 
held from three to four quarts each j six taakards, each containing a full 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILIJS EINDSEY. 207 



of the simple indivisible Unity of God as well as to prac- 
tise the rites of Unitarian worship. But I would not 

quart ; two dozen of cups of various sizes and forms, with six large plates 
for the bread ; all handsome, and as bright as silver can be made. No pel- 
Son of a grain of sense can suppose these things to be of any importance. 
But as many of these people display great opulence in their own houses, t 
see nothing improper in their expending a portion of their superfluous 
wealth upon the house of God. A Charity Sermon is preached once a quarter 
for the benefit of the poor belonging to the congregational Societies in thig 
town. The ministers of that denomination preach it in their turns, and the 
money is equally divided among the Societies for distribution. About four- 
teen hundred dollars are collected in this way in the year. Mr. C.~ preached 
an excellent discourse, and is in truth a charming preacher ; being remark- 
ably serious and sensible^ and universally liked. The place was quite full, 
though it will accommodate upwards of two thousand people. There is al- 
ways a collection at the Convention Sermon for the relief of poor ministers 
paid their families. About six hundred dollars were collected on that occa- 
sion.— Though the people in Boston have lost much of their ancient rigidity 
respecting the Sabbath, great attention is paid to that day. Few resort into 
the country, and those who do, go early in the morning that they may not 
be noticed. Very few visit on that day, and but few are to be seen in the 
streets, except when going to or from public worship, and then the streets 
are .crowded. At sun-set their Sabbath is considered as ended ; the gentle- 
men often visit their friends, and the ladies sometimes take their work. In 
religious families the Saturday evenings are observed with strictness ; but 
some, as might be expected, under pretence of keeping Saturday evening 
in preference to the other, keep neither. It is customary in the gayest, and 
even the most profligate, to connect themselves with some religious Society, 
so far as to contribute to its support, and occasionally to attend. This is ne- 
cessary if they would be thought of any consequence in Society, and even to 
preserve themselves from ridicule and reproach. Dr. E., who has been a 
minister at Boston above thirty years, tells me, he never knew a greater re- 
gard^paidto religion in that town than now, nor does he think there ever was 
in his time more real goodness among them. On Election day I dined with 
about thirty gentlemen at Mr. P.'s, one of the deacons of Dr. E.'s church. 
We had a most sumptuous entertainment. When they had drunk two or 
three glasses of wine after dinner the company dispersed. This I find is a 
pretty general practice, and thus all temptation to drink to excess is avoided. 
Their graces before and after meals are generally longer than with you. 
That office is assigned to the minister of the host, or to the oldest minister 
present. Episcopalianism is at most only upon a level with other denomi-* 
nations. The Bostonians are Very commendable for keeping very much to 
their own places of worship, and for speaking of their own minister as one 
of the best preachers in the town. The clergy seem to be comfortably sup- 
ported, their salaries being from 1500 to 2000 dollars a year, and they are 
constantly receiving handsome presents. They very generally wear in the 
summer a silk gown and cassock, with a band; in the winter a cloth one ; and 
altogether their worship is kept up in a splendid style. The pulpits through- 
out the country will hold from four to six ministers; and in Boston their 
rich cushions and curtains, or Venetian blinds, ornamental pillars and splen- 
did chandeliers, give their Meetings a magnificent appearance. I think 
those which have been lately built are too large ; a minister must have a 
good voice to fill them. Boston is said to contain 30,000 people, and is in- 
creasing very fast. The ground on which the town stands is greatly elevated 



208 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATS 



[CH. IX> 



presume to judge for another. There may possibly be 
reasons for caution which do not occur to me, and of 

or. the south-west. It makes a noble appearance from the country. The 
State House on Beacon Hill is a magnificent structure. All their Meetings 
have steeples with one bell. That to the new Meeting in Park-street is very 
lofty, and one of the handsomest I ever saw. It stands on high ground at 
the top of the Mall, is seen all round the country, and indeed beyond the 
Light-house far into Massachusetts Bay. The High Calvinists who built 
this Meeting expected to have lessened the other congregations, but I am 
told they have not yet done it. Should they get a popular minister, I have 
no doubt there will be a large Society : the disposition of the people for at- 
tending public worship being such, that I expect all their Meetings will be 
well attended. In the old part of the town the streets are narrow and crook- 
ed, but are much improved and improving in that respect. Formerly they 
were much exposed to depredations from fire, the houses being mostly built 
of wood. The danger from this quarter is lessening daily, as no buildings 
higher than fourteen feet are permitted to be erected of wood now. The town 
stands on a peninsula, joining to the main land only by a narrow neck on the 
south. They were, therefore, obliged to make use of boats to get to and 
from town. But since the war, five bridges have been built over the different 
waters that surround Boston and Charleston, which are a vast convenience 
to the inhabitants. These bridges are all built of wood, and some of them 
are above a mile in length. The ministers of Boston and that vicinity discover 
considerable accuracy and taste in their compositions, and, generally speak- 
ing, may be considered as well furnished divines. Dr. O. is a man of very 
strong powers of mind ; and though he distinguishes himself upon all public 
occasions, and especially those of a political nature, his general manner of 
preaching is very pious and edifying. The clergy are invited to a great many 
good dinners. A Boston merchant would hardly think of making a dinner 
for his friends without inviting three or four clergymen. Some that I once 
knew I believe injured their health and shortened their days by eating and 
crinking too much. Those now on the stage do not give into any exces3." 

For this long, but curious and interesting extract, I trust that the reader 
will require no apology. I will only add two brief reflections : First, that 
the ministers of the church of England are not the only persons who dislike 
itinerant intruders into parishes which are served by regular clergymen. 
The spirit of all establishments is the same, whether the favoured sect be 
episcopalian, presbyterian, or congregational. Secondly, May it be per- 
mitted to put the question without offence : Can it upon the common prin- 
ciples of human nature be reasonably expected of a body of clergy, nursed 
in the lap of ease and affluence, and placed in a station of such high secular 
consideration and comfort as that of the ministers of Boston, that they 
should come forward and by an open profession of unpopular truth volunta- 
rily risk the loss of all their temporal dignity and comfort, and incur the 
contempt and enmity of many who are now their warmest admirers and 
friends ? I say not this by way of disparagement to the present body of mi- 
nisters in Boston and its neighbourhood. Some of these I have the pleasure 
to call my friends, and know them to be possessed of talents the most di- 
stinguished, of piety the most fervent, and of benevolence and zeal the most 
ardent, active, and laudable ; and of the rest I have heard a most favourable 
character. It is the situation, not the men, which excites my apprehension. 
And who will venture to say of himself, that his virtue would be equal to the 
trial ? Yet still it cannot reasonably be hoped that Truth will make any 
visible and rapid progress till her advocates rise above the fear of man and 



CH. IX. J REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 209 

which I am not competent to judge. The time must 
however come, perhaps it is near, when Truth will no 
longer endure confinement, but will burst forth in all her 
glory. The dull hollow rumbling at the bottom of the 
sea, which is scarcely noticed by the inattentive traveller 
who is gliding carelessly over the solid plate of ice which 
encrusts the surface, is, to the wary and experienced ob- 
server, a sure presage of the speedy and sudden explosion 
of the immense superincumbent mass, and of the resto- 
ration of the imprisoned waves to their native freedom, 
to the consternation and often to the utter destruction of 
those who refuse to listen to the friendly premonition*. 



APPENDIX to CHAPTER -IX. 

I have republished this chapter without any material alterations; 
though I have learned with regret, that some worthy persons 
have taken offence at it, and that it has given birth to a warm, 
not to say an angry controversy on the other side of the Atlantic. 

It should seem that many who claim the honourable title of 
Unitarians in the American States, are very desirous to have it 
known that they are not " Unitarians in Mr. Belsham's sense of 
the word/' Of this I have no right to complain: I never desired 
to set myself up as the head of a party : nor have I the slightest 
pretensions to it ; being nothing more than a humble disciple 
in the school of Lardner, of Lindsey, and of Priestley; having 
learned of them and of a few others, particularly Locke, how to 
read and examine the Scriptures, and being a follower of them 



the love of ease, and are willing, with the apostles of Christ and the re- 
formers of every age, to forsake all and to sacrifice their dearest interests 
in her glorious cause. The encouragement and success which such faith- 
ful confessors would meet with in that populous and opulent city would, I 
doubt not, be very great. The harvest truly is plenteous, it is ripe and 
ready to be gathered in. Highly honoured will that servant be to whom 
the great Master of the field shall communicate a portion of his energetic 
spirit, and shall say, " Put in thy sickle and reap. " 

* See the interesting narrative of the very narrow escape of two Mora- 
vian missionaries in travelling over the ice, in consequence of neglecting 
the advice of some friendly Esquimaux, in the History of the Mission of the 
United- Brethren to Labrador. 

P 



210 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. IX . 



so far as they appear to me to be followers of Christ ahd his 
apostles. But I do complain of palpable misrepresentation of 
my opinions, and of an exaggerated account of my sentiments 
concerning the person of Christ, to which I am by no means 
disposed to subscribe. 

In perfect concurrence with the three first-named venerable 
men, I believe that Jesus of Nazareth was a human being, in all 
respects like unto his brethren, only distinguished from the rest 
of mankind as the greatest of all the prophets of God, chosen by 
the Most High to be the founder of a new and universal dispen- 
sation, the prince and the leader of life, the first begotten from 
the dead, to whom the spirit was communicated without measure. 
By which I mean, that he was fully instructed in the nature, ob- 
ject, and extent of his divine mission, and that he was endowed 
with a voluntary power of working those miracles which were 
necessary to excite attention, and to demonstrate the divinity of 
his mission. 

In this definition of Unitarianism I perfectly harmonize with 
Dr. Lardner, Mr. Lindsey, and Dr. Priestley: it is no more my 
definition than ii is theirs: and i have no right to the honour of 
being represented as its author. They who disclaim Unitarianism 
according to my definition, disclaim the Unitarianism of Lardner, 
Lindsey, and Priestley— men of the greatest distinction for theo * 
logical learning, for their researches into the Scripture, and for 
the unblemished sanctity of their character. 

I agree with Mr. Lindsey and Dr. Priestley in rejecting upon 
critical grounds the story of the miraculous conception, and in 
believing that Jesus Christ was the son of Joseph and Mary. 
And being in all respects like other men, he must originally have 
been a peccable, or he could not have been a moral agent : and the 
perfection of his character was owing to moral discipline. Though 
he was a Son, he learned obedience by the things he suffered $ 
and he grew in wisdom as he grew in stature. And though in- 
spired with a perfect knowledge of every thing relating to his 
divine mission, it would be absurd to suppose that a human being 
was inspired with omniscience. In those philosophical, histori- 
cal, and other topics which were not immediately connected with 
the objects of his mission he probably entertained opinions similar 
to those of his countrymen in similar circumstances. This is all 
that is meant, when it is said that Jesus was fallible: and in this 
conclusion all consistent believers in the proper humanity of Jesus 
Christ must agree. Dr. Priestley thought that Jesus had erred 
in the interpretation of Scripture prophecy, and in the case of the 
Gospel demoniacs. I do not completely agree with my late 
learned and pious friend in all his conclusions upon these subjects : 
but if they were true, they would not at all affect the authority. 



OH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 211 



of Christ in those points to which his divine mission properly ex- 
tended. 

If Unitarianism is a belief in the existence of one God only, in 
opposition to a plurality of deities, I am decidedly of opinion, 
with Dr. Lardner, Mr. Lindsey, and Dr. Priestley, that genuine 
Arians have no claim to the title of Unitarians. Dr. Lardner, with 
all his mildness, had such a dislike to Arianism that he could 
hardly speak of it with temper. " Dr. Watts/' says he, " to his 
honour be it spoken, never was an Arian." And though he lived in 
an age when Arianism was triumphant, so profound was his know- 
ledge of Christian antiquity, and so clear his discernment of Scrip- 
ture theology, that it was a well known maxim with him, f The 
pride of Arianism will have a fall.' " Mr. Lindsey, " to his ho- 
nour be it spoken/' never was an Arian. Dr. Priestley and others 
descended from the heights of orthodoxy to the plains of Unita- 
rianism through the medium of Arianism. I am therefore very 
far from intending the slightest disparagement to those who hold 
the Arian doctrine, as i myself for many years very honestly did, 
with perhaps a slight modification of what is now called the in- 
dwelling scheme, in whatever language I may now think it right 
to enter my protest against it. No one surely who thinks rightly 
concerning the Unity of God will ever admit that Dr. Clarke's 
scheme, of an eternally begotten Logos, or the proper Arian 
doctrine of a created Logos, who is the sole former, preserver and 
governor of the whole created universe, which completely ex- 
cludes God from all concern in his works, is consistent with just 
notions of the L T nity of the Supreme Being. Upon both these 
hypotheses, if the Father is nominally God, the Logos is really 
and the only God. And as to modern Arianism, such as that 
of Dr. Price, which supposes the Logos to be only the former, 
supporter, governor and judge of this world, or of the 
planetary system, if ever polytheism existed in the world, this 
doctrine is such. For not only does it exclude GQd from his 
works, like the theories of Arius and Dr. Clarke, so far as this 
world is concerned ; but it naturally and necessarily leads to the 
conclusion that there are as many Logi as there are systems, and 
that each Logos is endowed with infinitely more power than all 
the gods and goddesses of the heathen world put together ; who 
yet were also subject to one great Supreme. Arianism therefore 
is polytheism in its strictest sense. But modern Arians, as if they 
were determined to recede as far as possible from the letter of 
Scripture, having thus deified their Lord and Master, and raised 
him into the situation of a substitute for the Supreme Being, 
strangely, and in direct opposition to the dictates of common 
oense and to th6 plainest language of Scripture, deny him the 
worship and homage due to the rank and character to which the\ 

p 2 



212 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH, IX. 



have elevated him. For while the Scripture expressly requires 
that we shall worship and bow down and kneel before the Lord 
our Maker, for he is our God; the modern Arian replies " No, 
we will not worship the Lord our Maker, for he is not our God ; 
and to worship him would be an act of downright idolatry: but 
we will worship our Maker's Maker, for he alone is our God a 
strange doctrine; for which if any one can find any foundation 
in the Scripture, he must read with very different eyes from mine. 
It is indeed astonishing that so many wise and good men should 
be so blind to the plain consequences of their own opinions, and 
should fancy that they are Unitarians, when they believe not only 
in two, but in two hundred thousand gods. But, as Dr. Price 
says, we are apt to wonder at one another : and it is almost im- 
possible to make sufficient allowance for the strength of early 
prejudice and the influence of fixed principles. But at least I 
think it will be allowed me that, while I entertain these sentiments 
of the Arian hypothesis, I cannot very consistently class Arians 
with Unitarians*. As to the very modern doctrine of the simple 
pre-existence of Christ, the abettors of it have certainly no 
claim to the title of Arians, but have a very good right to be num- 
bered with Unitarians, though, as I think, under a cloud of error. 

No small share of credit is claimed by many on both sides the 
Atlantic for being what they call practical preachers, and for not 
troubling their hearers with what they represent as speculative no- 
tions. And not unfrequently, a sarcasm or an innuendo is thrown 
out against those of their brethren who think it their duty to in- 
struct, as well as to exhort. If such practical teachers satisfy their 
own consciences, and are useful to others, it is well. Happy is 



* Nothing can be more extraordinary and unaccountable than the zeal 
with which modern Arians explode the worship of Jesus Christ. For up- 
wards of twenty years of my life I was an Arian, or a Clarkist. I believed 
that the spirit, the Logos which animated the body of Christ, was the maker 
of heaven and earth and sea, and all things therein : I believed that he was 
my maker, supporter, benefactor and governor, in whom I lived and moved 
and existed : I believed that he descended from his celestial glories ; that he 
became incarnate ; that he took the form of a servant ; and that by under- 
going the severest pains of body and mind he satisfied Divine justice and 
expiated the sins of men. I believed that after his resurrection he ascended 
into heaven ; that he resumed his original glory ; and that he ever lives to 
make intercession for us, in the usual sense of the words. I believed that 
the first duty of a Christian was to commit his immortal interests into the 
hands of Christ, who was ever willing to take the charge of them ; and who 
was always at hand to sympathize, to strengthen, to console, to advise, and 
to keep what was committed to him to that day. With these views of 
Christ, was it possible to suppress the feelings of veneration, of gratitude, 
of hope, of confidence, of joy and the like; or to restrain the natural ex- 
pressions of those feelings, in the language of prayer and praise? It was 
utterly impossible. And never shall I forget the delight with which I have 



CH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDEY. 



213 



he who condemneth not himself in the thing that he alloweth. 
Theirs is comparatively an easy task. Others are placed in cir- 
cumstances of greater difficulty and severer trial. Enlightened by 
a serious, long, and painful study of the Scriptures in the know- 
ledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, they feel themselves not only 
called to resign their most cherished prejudices, but to abandon 
their dearest connexions, to exchange affluence for poverty, and 
reputation for contempt. Being themselves happily possessed of 
the simplicity of evangelical truth, discerning its inestimable 
value, and feeling its enlivening and consolatory power, they be- 
lieve it to be their duty to enter their solemn protest against 
popular and prevailing errors, and to be as explicit in teaching 
God's sacred truth, as others are in publishing their unscriptural 
and pernicious errors. In thus fearlessly obeying the dictates of 
conscience they often incur severe privations, and are censured 
and even abandoned by some from whom they would have ex- 
pected more liberal treatment. It is however enough for them that 
God knows their heart; and that his approbation will make am- 
ple amends for every loss which they may sustain, for every 
pang which they endure, for all the calumny and reproach 
which they encounter from the world, and from the unkind cen- 
sures of their mistaken brethren. If they are honoured as the 
humblest instruments of promoting the truth of God and the 
purity of the Gospel, none of these things move them. 

As to the rest, I trust that this discussion has been the happy 
means of promoting the great cause of the proper Unity and the 
sole unrivalled glory of God in the United States. I am happy to 

a thousand and a thousand times repeated the language of Grove's Sacra- 
mental Meditations : " Do I not love thee, O my Saviour ! thou knowest all 
things, thou knowest that I love thee. I love thee, O Jesus ! but not as I 
would, not as I ought to love thee," &c. Or of that beautiful hymn of Dr. 
Doddridge : 

" Do I not love thee, O my Lord ! 
Then let me nothing love; 
Be dead, my heart, to every joy, 
If Jesus cannot move." 

' And even now I hardly dare trust my feelings with those recollections ; 
even though, in consequence of having acquired correcter notions of the 
person of Christ, I am fully convinced that our exalted Master would not 
think himself honoured by those affections and addresses which are alone 
due to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God. But how it is 
that modern Arians can possibly entertain these sentiments of Jesus Christ, 
and yet refuse him the correspondent homage; and not only so, but make 
their boast of it, and glory in it as a circumstance which entitles them to 
the honourable title of Unitarians, is utterly beyond ray comprehension. 
When I entertained their sentiments concerning the person and offices of 
Christ, I should rather have said, " Perish Unitavianism ! if it requires a sa- 
crifice so costly as that of . the affection and homage which are due to the 
Redeemer." - - 



214 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



j_CH. IX. 



learn that ministers both of the Arian and Unitarian persuasions 
are now in the habit of openly professing the doctrines which they 
believe: and I do noc wonder that, in consequence of this fearless 
integrity in a land of perfect religious liberty, Christian truth is 
flashing like lightning through that highly favoured empire, from 
Boston to Baltimore, and from Philadelphia to the Illinois. And I 
doubt not that in less than a century the belief of one God even 
the Father, and of one Mediator between God and man, the man 
Christ Jesus, will become the prevailing religion of the Western 
world'*. 



CHAPTER X. 

ACCOUNT OF THE NEW COLLEGE AT HACKNEY. THE 
AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION TO, AND INTIMACY WITH, 
MR. LINDSEY AND DR. PRIESTLEY. LONDON UNITA- 
RIAN SOCIETY. WESTERN UNITARIAN SOCIETY. REV, 
TIMOTHY KEN RICK. UNITARIAN FUND SOCIETY. 

f ROM this long but I trust not irrelevant nor unin- 
teresting digression, concerning the present state of the 
Unitarian doctrine in America, it is now time to return 
to the venerable subject of the present Memoir. 

In the year 1786, the Dissenting Academical Insti- 
tutions at Exeter, Warrington, and Hoxton, having 
been lately dissolved, and no place of education for dis- 
senting ministers remaining where freedom of inquiry 
upon theological questions was allowed, excepting that 
at Daventry, which was by no means equal to supply the 
demands of the nonconformist churches, some gentle- 
men in London formed a plan for erecting an Acade- 

* The admirable discourse of the Rev. VV. E. Charming, delivered at the 
Ordination of the Rev. Jared Sparks, the respectable minister of the new 
Unitarian church at Baltimore, in May 1819, and the explicit language used 
upon that occasion, are amply sufficient to redeem the liberal theologians in 
America from the censure of concealing what they believe to be the truth : 
and the discussion excited by this eloquent address cannot fail to be greatly 
conducive to the cause of free inquiry and the propagation of Christian 
knowledge. 



CH. X.] REVEREND TIIEOPHTLUS LItfDSEY. 



215 



mical Institution in the vicinity of London for the pur- 
poses of general education, and to supersede the necessity 
of sending the sons of dissenting parents to the English 
Universities, where they are under an obligation of sub- 
scribing to articles which they do not believe, and of at- 
tending upon forms of worship which they do not ap- 
prove. The design was generous and noble ; and it 
could not have failed to produce the most beneficial and 
permanent effects, had the wisdom of the execution been 
proportionate to the beneficence of the plan, and to the 
disinterested liberality, the zeal, and the public spirit of 
the original founders. The Dissenters through the coun- 
try took up the case most warmly, and subscribed most 
liberally; so that, if the sums raised had been judiciously 
applied, an Institution might have been founded and 
endowed which would have bid defiance to opposition 
and calumny, and the duration of which would have been 
equal with that of the nation. Some have objected to its, 
vicinity to London : but the true and conclusive answer 
to this is, that other very flourishing Academical Insti= 
tutions have existed, and do exist, in the vicinity of the 
metropolis : there is, therefore, no impossibility, phy- 
sical or moral, why an Institution of this kind, established 
upon liberal principles and aided by a vigorous system 
of discipline, might not have been equally successful, 
And the advantages of the vicinity of London are obvious 
and numerous, particularly as it affords the greatest fa? 
cility of obtaining the best means of instruction in every 
art and science. If the funds of the Institution had been 
permanently established and. (Economically applied, any 
error, however great, in the internal management might 
have been corrected without affecting its existence. It 
was a grand experiment ; in the conduct of which it 
might reasonably be expected that, from the want of 



216 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



(_CH. X. 



experience, errors would arise without any imputation 
of blame to individuals. And from my own knowledge 
of the case, having been personally connected with the 
Institution for the last seven years of its existence, I will 
presume to say, that it did not fail from any deficiency in 
attention or zeal, either on the part of the committees or 
the tutors. The spirit of the times was against the In- 
stitution. And the mania of the French Revolution, 
which began so w T ell and ended so ill, pervaded all ranks 
of society, and produced a general spirit of insubordi- 
nation. The ferment of the times gave birth to insi- 
dious and even to daring attacks upon natural and re- 
vealed religion, which produced mischievous effects upon 
uninformed and undisciplined minds. And the founders 
of the Institution, with the best intentions in the world, 
introduced a principle which they held up to the public 
as the peculiar and distinguishing excellence of the plan, 
and which was to render this Institution paramount in 
discipline and order to all others ; but which, in fact, 
sapped the very foundation of all discipline, and was the 
bane of all salutary authority, viz. that a superintending 
committee should be always at hand to watch over the 
conduct of the students, and to support the authority of 
the tutors. This regulation, in fact, left the tutors totally 
destitute of all authority ; for whatever happened amiss, 
they had no other power to rectify but by an appeal to 
this committee. Every one who is in the least degree 
acquainted with the dispositions of young men, must see 
at once that such a constitution is directly and neces- 
sarily productive of anarchy. And in fact it did produce 
it to a considerable degree ; and it was owing to the good 
principles and habits which many of the students brought 
with them to the college, that this spirit was not more 
prevalent. 



€H. X.] REVEREND THEOFHILUS LINDSEY. 



217 



Yet, after all, every thing might have been rectified 
had the funds been properly managed. The principal 
and in truth the only cause of the failure of the Insti- 
tution was the unfortunate purchase of the estate at 
Hackney, which involved the committee in an expense of 
building and a load of debt which the funds of the In- 
stitution never were nor could have been able to support. 
The creditors became clamorous, and it was necessaiy to 
sell the estate to great disadvantage in order to pay off 
the debt. 

The principal of this debt has been long since dis- 
charged ; and by the accumulating interest of the resi- 
duary funds, during the suspension of the Institution, 
under the management of the worthy and respectable 
treasurer John Towgood, Esq., a sum has been raised 
sufficient to discharge the interest of the debts, and to 
relieve the College honourably and faithfully from every 
just demand upon its assets. A considerable permanent 
fund still remains, agreeably to the Resolution of the 
General Meeting, July 1, 1786 # , which is now vested 

* The Resolution is expressed in the following words, extracted from 
the Minutes annexed to the Discourse delivered by Dr. Price in April 17 $7 
before the Supporters of the College : viz. t£ That one-third of the present 
and future donations, benefactions, and bequests to the New Academical In- 
stitution in the neighbourhood of London, the same not being annual sub- 
scriptions, shall go to create a Permanent Fund, the capital whereof shall 
be preserved for ever inviolable and unalienable, in the hands of 
Trustees." A subsequent Resolution purports, " That the annual income 
arising from the Permanent Fund shall alone be paid from time to time as 
it arises towards the support of the said Institution, in such manner as the 
General Committee shall direct. Or if the said institution shall at any time 
hereafter be dissolved, or be discontinued for the space of three years, to 
the founding or to the support of any other Academical Institution, or of any 
Institution preparatory to such among the Protestant Dissenters for the 
liberal education of youth in any part of England or Wales ; or in giving ex- 
hibitions to students for the ministry, or in supporting one or more tutors at 
any such Institution or Institutions within the same limits as the General 
Committee shall direct." 

As the annual subscriptions have been discontinued for many years, the 
only persons who now have any interest in or control over the funds of the 
Institutio-n are the Life-Governors, out of whose donations the Permanent 
fund has been formed. 



218 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. X. 

in public securities in the names of four trustees : the 
dividends upon which are applied by them to the pur* 
poses for which that fund was appropriated. 

Of this Institution Mr. Lindsey was from the begin- 
ning a sincere well-wisher, and an active and liberal sup- 
porter : no one more ardently desired its success, nor did 
any one more sincerely lament the circumstances which 
led to its suspension. 

It was his connexion with this Institution which first 
introduced the writer of this Memoir into an intimacy 
with the revered friend who is the subject of it. As a 
minister whose principles were known to be what is com- 
monly called evangelical, the author of this Memoir had 
been appointed in the year 1/81, Theological Tutor in 
the : academy at Daventry, which was a continuation of 
the academy under the late pious and celebrated Dr. 
Doddridge at Northampton, and was supported by the 
trustees of the late William Coward, Esq., who be- 
queathed a considerable estate for the education of dis- 
senting ministers, and for other religious purposes # . 
The office of pastor of the independent congregation at 
Daventry was at that time held in connexion with the 

* William Coward, Esq. was a merchant in London, a man of large pro- 
perty, and a zealous Calvinist. He left his great fortune to pious purposes, 
intending however that it should be limited to the support of the Calvinistic 
doctrine. But the professional gentleman who drew up the will, who was 
a man of great talent and liberality, expressed it in such terms as to leave 
the trustees at full liberty to apply it to the support of whatever they might 
judge to be the cause of Christ among Protestant Dissenters. The trustees 
consist of three dissenting ministers and one lay-gentleman ; and when a 
vacancy occurs the survivors appoint a successor, and this important trust 
lias always hitherto been filled by persons of high respectability. For many 
years this fund supported two very respectable and flourishing institutions 
for the education of dissenting ministers ; one in the vicinity of London, 
first under the direction of Dr. David Jennings, and afterwards of Dr. Savage, 
and Dr. Kippis, and Dr. Rees ; the other in the country, first at Northamp- 
ton, under the care of Dr. Doddridge, and afterwards at Daventry, under Dr. 
Ashworth, the Rev. T. Robins, and finally the writer of this Memoir. And 
it was during this interval that Mr. Coward's trust was in the meridian of 
its glory, To them the whole dissenting interest looked up as its patrons 
and benefactors ; and from one or other of their institutions most of the 



CH. X.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 219 

office of divinity tutor, and to this he was also invited. 
The Unitarian controversy, revived with so much ani- 
mation by the writings of Mr. Lindsey and Dr. Priestley, 
and brought home so closely to the feelings by the truly 
christian and disinterested conduct of the former, in the 
resignation of his vicarage, was at that time in its zenith. 
And the tutor regarding it as a question of the highest 
importance, conceiving it to be his duty to state it fairly 
before the theological students, and observing that the 
question concerning the simple humanity of Christ, 
which was now become the great controversy of the age, 
was scarcely glanced at in Dr. Doddridge's Lectures, 
which were the text-book of the Institution, he deter- 
mined to draw up a new course of lectures upon the sub- 
ject. And to this he was impelled by an additional 
motive, namely, the hope of putting a speedy termi- 
nation to this newly revived controversy ; since, what- 
ever respect he entertained for the abilities, the learning, 
and the character of the great champions of the Uni- 
tarian faith, he felt a perfect confidence that their argu- 
ments would be found capable of an easy and satisfactory 

spectable congregations were supplied with well-educated ministers. Indeed 
it may be questioned whether more good has ever been done for so great a 
length of time at so moderate an expense. For though they exerted them- 
selves to the utmost of the powers with which they were vested, the allow- 
ance which they were able to make to the tutors was never such as to 
enable them to make any considerable provision for their families, never 
amounting, I believe, upon an average, including board, tutors' salaries, . 
house-rent, &c. to more than 30/. a head for each pupil, and in the country 
not so much. But there was no complaint, and the tutors performed the 
duties of their office with cheerfulness, looking for remuneration of a dif- 
ferent kind, having never entered upon the dissenting ministry with the ex- 
pectation of aggrandizing their fortune. In the year 1J85, upon the resig- 
nation of the tutors of the Hoxton Academy, Mr. Coward's trustees, feeling 
the support of two institutions as a burden too oppressive, determined upon 
uniting them together at Daventry, under the charge of the writer of this 
Memoir, under whose direction the United Institution remained till his re- 
signation in 1789 ; after which it was placed for some years under the care 
of the Rev. John Horsey at Northampton ; and upon his resignation it was 
removed to Wymondely in Hertfordshire. 



220 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. X* 



reply : and whatever might be the errors of his own edu- 
cation, he had been happily instructed and firmly fixed 
in the grand principle, that freedom of investigation 
must ultimately be favourable to truth. The method 
which he pursued in instituting this inquiry he has de- 
tailed at large in another place. It is therefore suffi- 
cient at present to mention, that he first selected all the 
texts of the New Testament upon which the controversy 
is allowed to depend ; most certainly not omitting any 
which appeared to him favourable to the pre-existence 
and divinity of Jesus Christ. These he arranged under 
distinct heads ; and under each text he introduced the 
explanations of the most approved commentators of the 
Trinitarian, Arian, Socinian, and Unitarian hypotheses, 
very rarely introducing any theological comments of his 
own, choosing rather to leave the remarks of the different 
expositors to make their own impression upon the 
minds of his pupils. The labour was considerable ; but 
it was not thought burthensome either by the teacher 
or the learner; the consciousness of honest unbiassed 
inquiry, and the gradual opening of light, was ample 
compensation for all. But the result was widely dif- 
ferent from what had been expected. First, the pupils, 
whose ingenuous minds not so firmly bound by preju- 
dice were more open to conviction, began to discard the 
errors of education ; and some of them, much to the 
regret of their worthy friends, and not least to that of 
their tutor, became decided Unitarians. The tutors 
habits of thinking were more firmly riveted ; and though 
from the beginning of the inquiry he was a little sur- 
prised at discovering so few direct, and, as he thought, 
unequivocal, assertions of his favourite doctrine, and 
though in the process of his labours he found himself 
obliged to abandon one text because it was spurious, 



CH.-X.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 221 

another because it admitted of a different and more pro- 
bable interpretation, and so on, and was thus driven by 
degrees out of his strong holds ; yet such was the as- 
cendancy which the associations of education had ob- 
tained over his mind, that he does not believe it would 
have been in the power of argument to have subdued it, 
had not the nature of his office, which made it neces- 
sary for him to repeat the lectures to successive classes, 
and which thereby compelled his attention again and 
again to the subject, eventually, and almost imperceptibly 
over-ruled his original prepossessions, and brought him 
over to the faith to which he had certainly no previous 
partiality, to the profession of which he had no interest 
to induce him, and which he had fondly flattered him- 
self that he should without much difficulty have over- 
thrown. Those who have never changed their opinions, 
who are not much in the habits of inquiry, or who have 
not watched the vacillations of the mind when it is deli- 
berating upon subjects of high importance, when it is 
anxious to form a correct judgement, when much de- 
pends upon the decision, and when it once begins to 
suspect as erroneous what it has long regarded as sacred 
and essential truth, may wonder that the teacher should 
be so long in making up his own mind, and that he 
should not be able to mark the day and the hour of 
his conversion. The fact is, that he was not himself 
aware of it, till, upon the repetition of a sermon which he 
had preached a few years before, and in which the pre- 
existence of Christ and its concomitant doctrines were 
assumed as facts, he found himself so embarrassed from 
beginning to end, by his sceptical doubts, that he deter- 
mined from that time to desist from teaching what he 
now first discovered that he no longer believed. This 
was in the autumn of 1788. And conceiving that, his 



222 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH, %e 



mind being now made up upon the subject, it was his 
duty no longer to hold his peace, but to bear his public 
testimony to the truth ; and at the same time being 
conscious that he no longer possessed the qualifications 
which were deemed essential to the offices he sustained, 
and regarding it as both unhandsome and unjust to put 
his friends under the disagreeable necessity of dismissing 
him from his office, which they probably would have 
thought it their duty to do ; at least, being fully per- 
suaded that it was right to give them their option in 
the case, he determined to resign both the Academy and 
the congregation. His resignation of the former he 
sent into the trustees in January 1789, requesting them 
to keep it concealed till March, as it would be impos- 
sible for him to quit his situation till midsummer ; and 
he had no desire to make himself the topic of conver- 
sation till it became absolutely necessary. The trustees 
with great propriety expressed their acceptance of the 
resignation, in a respectful letter of form by the late ex- 
cellent and benevolent Joseph Paice, Esq. the lay trustee, 
accompanied with a kind, affectionate, sympathetic let- 
ter of his own, — like himself Nor were the rest of 
the trustees deficient in expressions of sympathy and 
friendship. 

In March 1789 the writer of this Memoir went up to 

* Of this gentleman, so long and so well known in London, and so highly 
esteemed for his amiable manners, his itnimpeachable integrity, and his un- 
bounded, disinterested, and almost romantic benevolence, an elegant memoir 
was printed by his intimate friend and executor James Gibson, Esq. address- 
ed to Mr. Gibson's only child. Mr. Paice was a dissenter upon principle 3 
and for many years a distinguished ornament of the highly respectable con- 
gregation at Carter-lane, under the pastoral care of Mr. Pickard and Mr. 
Tayler, and now of the Rev. Joseph Barrett. He was eminently pious, and 
of a truly catholic spirit. He died on the fourth of September 1810, and 
on the 16th of the same month an excellent and impressive discourse wa:s 
delivered upon the occasion, by the Rev. T. Tayler, at Carter-lane, before 
a numerous, respectable, and much-affected auditory, at whose request it wa> 
given to the public. 



CH, X.J REVEREND THEOPHILUS L1NDSEY. 223 

London to officiate at the ordination of his friend and 
•pupil the Rev. Edmund Butcher*, at Leather Lane, and 
for a few days he resided in lodgings in Essex-street. It 
was upon this occasion that he took the liberty of intro- 
ducing himself to the venerable patriarch of the Unita- 
rian church. His visit was short : as a stranger he was 
received with the politeness and benignity which were 
inseparable from Mr. Linclsey ; but nothing confidential 
passed. It was a visit of form, perhaps it may be said 
of curiosity, not, it is hoped, wholly unwarrantable, in 
the new proselyte, to see the holy confessor and cham- 
pion of truth, whose doctrine he had embraced,, and 
whose dignified example he had endeavoured, in his hum- 
ble measure, to follow. But his intended resignation 
was not then known ; and he did not choose to be the 
first notifier of it to this excellent man. While he con- 
tinued with Mr. Lindsey a gentleman came in, who, 
without knowing the stranger present, announced to Mr. 
Lindsey that the ordination was to take place at which 
that stranger was to officiate, Upon this solemnity Mr. 
Lindsey attended : but no further personal intercourse 
passed between them while the writer of this Memoir con- 
tinued in town ; and he returned into the country gratified 
with the opportunity which he had enjoyed of visiting 
Essex House,but little expecting that this interview would 
be introductory to the happy intimacy with which he was 
afterwards honoured by its distinguished inhabitants. 

For at that time Unitarianism was far from being a 
popular doctrine; and the highest ambition of the tutor, 

* This gentleman in the course of a few years was obliged to resign his 
office on account of ill health, and the weakness of his voice. Happily, by 
the blessing of Divine Providence, on the use of proper means, he gradually 
recovered both. He is now the respected and useful minister of a congre- 
gation of iiberal dissenters at Sidmouth ; and having upon more mature in- 
vestigation seen reason to abandon the system of Arianism, to which he was 
formerly much attached, he very honourably made a public profession of his 
conversion to the pure Unitarian doctrine, in a sermon preached before the 
Western Unitarian Society two years ago, 1810, 



224 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. X. 

when he quitted a connexion which had existed for eight 
years with great harmony and comfort, and to which from 
principle and from habit he was fondly attached, was to 
reside in a cottage in the vicinity of Birmingham, where 
he had many kind and excellent friends, and where he 
flattered himself that he should enjoy the society and 
the interesting and instructive conversation of Dr. Priest- 
ley. But Divine Providence ruled otherwise. It was 
thought by many of the respectable friends and sup- 
porters of the New College at Hackney that his labours 
might be of use to that rising Institution. Some, in- 
deed, of the old school objected to the new proselyte ; 
and his own expectations of usefulness or of comfort, in 
a situation so materially different from that which he had 
left, were not sanguine. But being now in an uncon- 
nected and insulated state, he had nothing to lose, and 
he sacrificed nothing, though his labours might be in 
vain. He was urged by many respectable persons to em- 
bark in the undertaking. Many objections were obvi- 
ated, sacrifices made, and difficulties removed, to make 
room for him. Dr. Priestley and Mr. Lindsey both con- 
curred in pressing his acceptance ; and what perhaps 
weighed more than all the rest, a prospect was opened, 
by residing in the neighbourhood of London, of culti- 
vating the friendship of Mr. Lindsey. This, it must be 
confessed, was the favourite wish of his heart ; and in the 
accomplishment of this wish his mind was completely 
gratified^, and every sacrifice which he had been called 
upon to offer upon the altar of truth and integrity was 
compensated a hundred-fold. He settled at the College 
in August 1789 ; and from that time his intimacy with 
the venerable subject of this Memoir commenced, and 
continued without interruption or abatement till the end 
of his days. Two years afterwards, in the year 1791, 
Dr. Priestley, the most spotless and innocent of men, as 



CK. X.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



225 



well as the most sagacious of philosophers, and the 
most laborious and ingenuous of theologians, having 
been driven from his home by the insane riots at Bir- 
mingham, and having been invited to succeed his learned 
and virtuous friend Dr. Price in the pastoral care of 
the congregation at Hackney, he voluntarily and gra- 
tuitously undertook to deliver to the students at the Col- 
lege his admirable lectures upon history and chemistry. 
This was the consummation of every wish which the 
writer of this Memoir could form for intellectual, moral, 
and social felicity and improvement. To be received into 
the familiar intercourse and admitted to share the confi- 
dence of these venerable men, whose honourable exertions 
and generous sacrifices in the cause of truth had placed 
them so much above the level of ordinary characters, and 
even of celebrated divines, was a blessing to which he had 
indeed earnestly aspired,, but the enjoyment of which he 
had never ventured to anticipate. Few days passed with- 
out some personal intercourse with one or other of these 
estimable men, and often with both. And the usual to- 
pics of conversation, besides the great events of the time 
which arrested every one's attention, were some subject 
in theology, some passage of Scripture, the elucidation 
of some point of doctrine, the solution of some objection, 
the present slow progress of Christian truth, the antici- 
pation of a day of greater light and knowledge, and hap- 
piness and peace. The friends did not entirely agree in 
opinion upon all points ; but the discussions, sometimes 
animated, were always amicable, for all were lovers of 
truth, and they sought after no other object. To discor 
ver truth was to gain the victory. 

How oft did they talk down the summer's sun • 
How often thawed and shortened winter's eve, 
By conflict kind, that struck out latent truth* ! 



* It is ^easing to see that the society which was so truly interesting to 



226 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. X, 



But this felicity was too pure to last : and in a short 
time these two eminent veterans in the service, whose 
friendship had been the growth of thirty years, and whose 
writings had, for the greater part of that time, been the 
food and sustenance of the revived primitive Unitarian 
church, were destined to be separated, never to see each 
other's face again. But of this more hereafter. 

In the year 1791 was formed the Unitarian Society 
for promoting Christian Knowledge, and the Practice of 
Virtue, by the Distribution of Books. The object of this 
society was two-fold : — the first was, that the few who 
then professed the unpopular doctrine of the unrivalled 
supremacy of God, and that the Father alone is to be 
worshiped, and of the simple humanity of Jesus Christ, 
might have some common bond of union, that they 
might know and support one another, and that they 
might thus publish their profession to the world, and ex- 
cite that serious inquiry which would lead to the diffusion 
of truth. The second object of the society was, to print 
and circulate, at a cheap rate, books which were judged 
to be best calculated to propagate right views of the 
Christian doctrine, and to apply it to the direction of the 
practice. It was proposed at first to combine this Society 
with that for promoting the Knowledge of the Scriptures, 
of which some account has been already given. But 
this combination was opposed by Mr. Lindsey and Dr. 

the writer of the Memoii - , contributed, in a considerable degree, to the gra- 
tification of the other parties. Upon this subject Dr. Priestley thus expresses 
himself in the Memoir of his Life, p. 107- 

" On the whole, I spent my time even more happily at Hackney than I 
had ever done before ; having every advantage for my philosophical and theo- 
logical studies in some respect superior to what I had enjoyed at Birming- 
ham, especially from my easy access to Mr. Lindsey, and my frequent inter- 
course with Mr. Belsham, professor of divinity in the New College, near 
which I lived. Never, on this side the grave, do I expect to enjoy myself so 
much as I did by the fireside of Mr. Lindsey, conversing with him and Mis, 
Lindsey on theological and other subjects; or in my frequent walks with 
Mr. Belsham, whose views of most important subjects were, like Mr. Lind- 
scy's, the same with my own." 



CH. X.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 227 

Priestley, who thought it best that the societies should 
be kept distinct ; and as the writer of this Memoir was 
the person who first suggested the plan, it was allotted to 
him to draw up the preamble to the Rules. And as the 
object of the society was by no means to collect a great 
number of subscribers, but chiefly to form an association 
of those who thought it right to lay aside all ambiguity 
of language, and to make a solemn public profession of 
their belief in the proper Unity of God, and of the sim- 
ple humanity of Jesus Christ, in opposition both to the 
Trinitarian doctrine of Three Persons in the Deity, and 
to the Arian hypothesis of a created Maker, Preserver, 
and Governor of the world, it was judged expedient to 
express this article in the preamble, in the most explicit 
manner. This was objected to by some, as narrowing 
too much the ground of the society, which, as they 
thought, ought to be made as extensive as possible. But 
the objection was easily over-ruled, it being the main 
intention and design of the society to make a solemn, 
public, and explicit avowal of what in the estimation of 
its members was christian truth ; to enter a protest 
against the errors of the day ; to unite those who held 
the same principles, and who were scattered up and down 
in different parts of the country, in one common bond of 
union ; and to encourage them to hold fast their profes- 
sion, and to stand by and support one another. 
, A much more plausible objection against the preamble 
was urged from the introduction of the word idolatrous. 
The obnoxious sentence is thus expressed : cc While, 
therefore, many well-meaning- persons are propagating 
with zeal opinions which the members of this society 
judge to be unscriptural and idolatrous, they think it 
their duty to oppose the further progress of such perni- 
cious errors, and publicly to avow their firm attachment 
to the doctrine of the Unity of God, of his unrivalled 

a 2 



228 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. X. 



and undivided authority and dominion," &c. Now, as 
the proper definition of idolatry is the worship of a being 
who is not truly God, and more especially the worship of 
a deified man, nothing can be more evident than that the 
worship of Christ must, in the estimation of Unitarians, 
be in that sense idolatrous ; and no persons are more 
ready to allow this consequence than Trinitarians them- 
selves are, upon the supposition that their doctrine is er- 
roneous. Yet nothing appears to give greater offence 
than the use of this epithet by the Unitarians, though 
they adopt it chiefly to excite the attention of their fel- 
low-christians to the importance of the question ; and 
are at the same time solicitous to point out the wide dif- 
ference between Christian and Pagan idolatry ; the for- 
mer being solely an error of judgement, upon the culpa- 
bility of which they presume not to decide ; while the 
other is essentially connected with the most odious vices, 
is branded in Scripture with the most contemptuous epi- 
thets, and justly threatened with the most awful punish- 
ments. The introduction of this expression into the 
preamble gave very great offence to many of the friends 
of the infant Institution, and it was very seriously de- 
bated, whether it should be retained or not. Perhaps 
it might have been prudent to omit it, as the doctrine 
which the society desired to hold forth as their common 
faith might have been expressed with equal distinctness 
and precision without it. But as it had been introduced, 
many were unwilling to abandon it ; they even consi- 
dered the omission of it as little less than a dereliction of 
principle. Among these were Mr. Lindsey, J)r. Priest- 
ley, Mr. Russel, of Birmingham ; and Mr. Tayleur, of 
Shrewsbury. On the other side were some gentlemen of 
Cambridge and elsewhere, whose names would have been 
an ornament to the society, but who either declined 
joining it, or withdrew from it when they heard that it 



CH. X.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 229 

was decided to retain the offensive epithet. And, in 
fact, some who still continued in the society were not 
well pleased with the expression, which they regarded as 
having a tendency to fix an opprobrium upon their fel- 
low-christians # . 

The first annual dinner of the Unitarian Society was 
held at the King s Head, in the Poultry, in April 1791 : 
the number assembled was between forty and fifty: 
among these were Mr. Lindsey, Dr. Priestley, Dr. Kip- 
pis, &c. and several eminent political characters were 

* As the preamble to the Rules of the Unitarian Society is not of any great 
length, and has been the subject of much discussion, it may not be amiss to 
introduce it in this place : 

" Christianity, proceeding from God, must be of infinite importance ; and 
a more essential service cannot be rendered to mankind, than to advance the 
interests of truth and virtue ; to promote peace, liberty, and good order in 
society ; to accelerate the improvement of the species ; and to exalt the cha- 
racter and secure the greatest ultimate happiness of individuals, by disse- 
minating the right principles of religion, and by exciting the attention of men 
to the genuine doctrines of revelation. 

** This is the chief object of the unitarian society for promoting 

CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE AND THE PRACTICE OF VIRTUE, BY DISTRIBUTING 

such books as appear to the members of the society to contain the most ra- 
tional views of the Gospel, and to be mo3t free from the errors by which it 
has long been sullied and obscured. Error, voluntary or involuntary, so far 
as it extends, must have a pernicious influence. The members of this society 
think, Jtherefore, that they are doing signal service to the cause of truth and 
good morals, by endeavouring to clear the Christian system from all foreign 
incumbrances, and by representing the doctrines of revelation in their primi- 
tive simplicity. Truth must ultimately be serviceable to virtue. 

" The fundamental principles of this society are, That there is but one 
God, the sole Former, Supporter, and Governor of the universe, the only 
proper object of religious worship ; and that there is one mediator between 
God and men, the 'man Christ Jesus, who was commissioned by God to in- 
struct men in their duty, and to reveal the doctrine of a future life. 

** The beneficial influence of these truths upon the moral conduct of men 
will be in proportion to the confidence with which they are received into the 
mind, and the attention with which they are regarded. Consequent^ all 
foreign opinions, which men have attached to this primitive system of Chris- 
tian doctrine, and which tend to divert their thoughts from these fundamen- 
tal principles, are in a degree injurious to the cause of religion and virtue. 
While, therefore, many well-meaning persons are propagating, with zeal, 
opinions which the members of this society judge to be unscriptural and ido- 
latrous, they think it their duty to oppose the further progress of such per- 
nicious errors, and publicly to avow their firm attachment to the doctrine of 
the unity of God, of his unrivalled and undivided authority and do- 
minion ; ar*d their belief that Jesus Christ, the most distinguished of the 
prophets<is the creature and messenger of God, and not his equal, nor 
his vicegerent in the formation and government of the world, nor copart- 



230 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. X> 



also present who were not members of the society. It 
was at a time when the French Revolution was in its 
glory, when it excited the highest hopes, and when its 
success was the object of the. most cordial wishes of the 
best friends to civil and religious liberty in this country. 
Mr. Burke had published his celebrated book six months 
before ; and Dr. Priestley and Mr. (now Sir James) 
Mackintosh and others had written or were preparing 
answers to it. The subject so occupied the public atten- 
tion, that it almost engrossed the conversation in every 
company. Tin forTuriately/uplm "this occasion many po- 
litical toasts were given ; and, amongst others, " Mr. 
Burke, and thanks to him for the discussion which he 
has provoked." And still more unfortunately for the so- 
ciety, they were published the next day in some of the 
Morning Papers, from which they were transferred into 
the Moniteur and other French Journals. The right ho- 
nourable gentleman whose namehad been introducedwith 
such distinction animadverted upon the meeting the next 
day in the House of Commons with great indignation. 
And twelve months afterwards, when a petition was pre- 
sented to the House, which, though it originated with 

nes with him in divine honours, as some have strangely supposed. And 
they are- desirous to try the experiment, whether the cause of true religion 
and virtue may not be most effectually promoted upon proper Unitarian prin- 
ciples ; and whether the plain unadulterated truths of Christianity, when 
fairly taught and inculcated, be not of themselves sufficient to form the minds 
of those, who sincerely embrace them, to that true dignity and excellence of 
character to which the Gospel was intended to elevate them. 

<f Rational Christians have hitherto been too cautious of publicly acknow- 
ledging their principles ; and this disgraceful timidity has been prejudicial to 
the progress of truth and virtue. It is now high time that the friends of ge- 
nuine Christianity should stand forth and avow themselves. The number of 
tsuch, it is hoped, will be found to be much greater than many apprehend. 
And their example, if accompanied with, and recommended by, a cone-, 
spondent purity of life and morals, will naturally attract the attention of 
others, and produce that freedom of inquiry, that liberal discussion, and that 
fearless profession of principles embraced after due examination, which can 
be formidable to nothing but fo error and vice, and which must eventually 
be subservient to the cause of truth and virtue, and to the best interests of 
mankind." 



CH. X.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 231 

the Unitarian Society, had been signed by persons of all 
persuasions, churchmen and dissenters, for the repeal of 
the penal laws relating to religion ; though it was intro- 
duced and supported by Mr. Fox with all his superemi- 
nent powers of reason and eloquence, it was most ve- 
hemently opposed by Mr. Burke, who made the house 
merry, and at the same time alarmed their prejudices, by 
reading and commenting upon the toasts which had been 
given at the dinner, and which he, with some humour, 
described as the articles of the Unitarian creed. This 
faux pas of the society at its commencement, in mix- 
ing politics with religion, gave much and reasonable 
offence to many of its friends and absent members, and 
induced the society afterwards to hold their meetings 
more privately, to decline all publicity in their proceed- 
ings, and to determine that, as a body formed upon a 
religious principle and directed solely to a religious ob- 
ject, they would not intermeddle with temporary politics. 

This society, the dawn of which was thus ushered in 
with clouds, soon emerged from its obscurity. It was 
joined by numbers of high respectability in different parts 
of the kingdom, who were not afraid or ashamed to be 
enrolled in the catalogue of Christians who were the 
avowed worshipers of the One God, the Father, through 
the one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ 
Jesus. And the success of the society, thus constituted, 
greatly exceeded the most sanguine expectations of those 
by whom it was originally formed. It made Unitarians 
known to one another. It diffused the..dbctrines of un- 
corrupted Christianity, by the extensive circulation of 
books which were calculated to check the progress of 
popular errors. It encouraged the public profession of 
these long-neglected truths. And what was of the greatest 
importance, it gave birth to many similar societies in dif- 
ferent parts of the country; some of which are in a state 



232 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. X. 



as prosperous, or even more so than the London Society 
itself. 

The first of these affiliated societies was the Western 
Unitarian Society, which was formed under the auspices 
of that truly excellent man the late Reverend Timothy 
Kenrick, of Exeter, a gentleman equally distinguished 
by the soundness of his judgement, the accuracy of his 
learning, the piety and rectitude of his character, and the 
warmth and inflexibility of his zeal in the cause of truth, 
virtue, and liberty. Having after long and rigorous in- 
quiry seen reason to adopt the doctrine of the proper 
humanity of Jesus Christ, and the unrivalled supremacy 
of the Father, he regarded it as an imperious duty to 
bear his testimony to the truth, to communicate the 
light which he had received, and to eradicate from the 
minds of the people of his charge the deeply-rooted errors 
which they had derived from the writings and instruc- 
tions of the learned Peirce and the venerable Towgood, 
of a second and inferior God, a delegated Creator, Pre- 
server, and Governor of the Universe. This erroneous 
and unscriptural doctrine Mr. Kenrick gradually under- 
mined by judicious discourses and plain and practical ex- 
positions from the pulpit, and attacked still more directly 
in the familiar lectures which he delivered to the young 
men of his congregation, and by the formation and zeal- 
ous support of the Western Unitarian Society. He saw 
with much regret that few young persons were in a train 
of education for the christian ministry among the rational 
dissenters. And he himself opened an Institution for 
that purpose at Exeter, in connexion with the Reverend 
Joseph Bretland, and received students into his family, 
gave up his time and labour to their instruction, and 
boarded them upon terms from which it was impossible 
for him to gain any thing. He can hardly be said to 
have done justice to his own family in thus expending 



CH. X.j REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 233 

his time, his talents, his vigour, and even his substance, 
with so little prospect of adequate remuneration. But 
this was to him an object of light consideration^ in com- 
parison with the great end he had constantly in view, the 
diffusion of christian truth, and the extrication of the 
christian doctrine from the mass of rubbish in which 
it has been for many centuries overwhelmed. In this 
great work he met with much opposition ; with opposi- 
tion from those who, from early habit and education, 
were sincerely and zealously attached to the errors which 
he was labouring to eradicate, and who of course believed 
it to be their duty to oppose him in all his measures ; 
and with opposition from some wise men of the world, 
who, though their opinions perhaps were not much at 
variance with his own, did not think it prudent to excite 
religious dissensions and to give public offence ; arguing 
in the same way, and acting upon the same principles, 
as the first opposers of the Reformation, and even of 
Christianity itself. Mr. Kenrick's vigorous mind was in 
no respect daunted by this opposition ; but persevering 
in his object with inflexible resolution, he ultimately ob- 
tained complete success. It pleased the Almighty, in 
his mysterious providence, to put a stop to this excellent 
man's exertions by an awful and unexpected stroke in 
the midst of his career. While in full possession of his 
health and faculties, and rejoicing in the increasing suc- 
cess of his pious and benevolent schemes, he was sud- 
denly cut off by an apoplectic seizure at W rexham, in 
Denbighshire, August 22, 1804, in the forty-fifth year of 
his age. The success of Mr. Kenrick's labours in his 
congregation appeared by their choice of a successor of 
similar ability and zeal in promoting the same great and 
good cause of christian truth, the Reverend Dr. Lant 
Carpenter — and in his Academical Institution, by the re- 
verence and affection in which his name and character are 



234 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. X, 



held by his pupils, and by their zeal and usefulness in the 
respectable stations which they occupy in the dissenting 
churches. The Western Unitarian Society has continued 
to flourish since Mr. Kenrick' s decease, and Arianism 
seems to be nearly expelled from one of her strongest cita- 
dels. Mr. Kenrick left three sons: the eldest of them, after 
his father's decease, passed a few years at Birmingham 
under the tuition of the Reverend John Kentish,, his fa- 
ther's friend ; and, having afterwards finished a brilliant 
career at the University of Glasgow, is now settled as a 
tutor in the College at York, an Institution of deservedly 
high reputation, under the able direction of the Reverend 
Charles Wellbeloved. And at this Institution Mr. Ken- 
rick's youngest son is in a course of education for the mi- 
nistry*. Two volumes of posthumous Sermons and three 
of Exposition of the Evangelists^ published at the desire 
of his congregation, are ample proofs how well qualified 
the learned and pious author was to teach the pure un- 
corrupted doctrine of Christ. Let the reader pardon what 
it is hoped may be considered as a not totally irrelevant 
digression, which the author has introduced to testify his 
respect and veneration for one in whose education he had 
the honour to sustain no inconsiderable share, and with 
whom he had afterwards the happiness to be connected 
as a colleague, a friend, and a brother. 

His saltern accumulem donis, et fungar inani 
Munere. 

Tile Southern Unitarian Society was formed soon after 
the Western, and a few years afterwards the Northern 
and other similar societies. These gave birth to Unita- 
rian Tract Societies in different parts of the kingdom^ 
the design of which was to distribute small tracts for the 

* The Reverend George Kenrick is now (1820) settled with a respectab! • 
congregation at Hull, where he is discharging his official duties with a.zeai 
and activity worthy of' the descendant of such a father. 



CH. X.] REVEREND THEOPHTLUS I4NDSEY. 23. r j 

purpose of diffusing just principles of religion among the 
inferior classes of society. With these have been united 
what are called Christian Tract Societies, which are in- 
tended to spread among the inferior classes interesting 
little compositions wholly practical, and entirely uncon- 
nected with controversy. These societies have met with 
great encouragement, and many have contributed to 
them who by no means agree in sentiment with the ori- 
ginal founders of these useful associations. But the So- 
ciety which at present holds the foremost rank, and en- 
gages the most general and the warmest support of the 
Unitarian body, is that which is called the Unitarian 
Fund Society ; the professed object of which is to encou- 
rage popular preaching, and to engage missionaries to 
visit different parts of the country, and, wherever there is 
an opening, to preach pure and uncorrupted Christianity 
in opposition to popular and prevailing errors. Some of 
the ministers employed in these missions, though not 
possessing the advantage of regular education, are men 
of very popular talents and very extensive information ; 
and by the great success with which their labours have 
been attended they have abundantly proved, that simple 
unsophisticated truth has charms to captivate even the 
most ordinary minds, when it is exhibited to them in a 
clear and affecting light, and have demonstrated the fal- 
lacy of the commonly received opinion that Unitarianism 
is not a religion for the common people. This being 
a new experiment, in which unlearned ministers were 
chiefly employed, many of the more learned and regular 
members of the Unitarian body stood aloof, and declined 
to give countenance to a proceeding, of the prudence and 
propriety of which they stood in doubt. Some do not 
even yet approve it ; and other's who wish well to the de- 
sign do not regard it as within the field of their personal 
exertions. But after the success which has attended the 



236 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. X. 



efforts of this Society, no person who is a real friend to 
the cause can consistently be hostile to its principle. 
How far the venerable patriarch of Unitarianism, who is 
the subject of this Memoir, would have patronised a 
Society of this description, cannot now be ascertained. 
That he was in the highest degree favourable to the main 
object of it, is evident from the following extract from 
a letter to a friend, dated October 23, 1789 : " I find 
that your son's account of the Unitarian street-preachers 
is true, and that he was with Dr. Priestley at Manchester 
when he saw them. It will be very desirable to have 
their numbers increased. We want much to have the 
common people applied to, as enough has been done, and 
is continually doing, for the learned and the higher ranks." 

The parent Institution, the London Unitarian Society, 
still exists upon a very respectable footing ; and though 
its numbers may not be so large nor its funds so ample, 
nor its proceedings attended with so much eclat as those 
of some associations of later date, it still retains the 
honour of having set the first example of a Society pub- 
licly professing Unitarian principles, and constituted with 
an avowed design of supporting and diffusing them. One 
of its main objects no longer exists. The title of Uni- 
tarian, then a term of general reproach, is now, in con- 
sequence of the extensive diffusion of Unitarian princi- 
ples, become a mark of honour, and is courted rather 
than shunned. The Society still continues to distribute, 
every year, a very considerable number of Unitarian 
books and tracts. And if its numbers should decline, 
of which however there is no immediate prospect, the 
members of the Society whose only object is to promote 
the cause of truth, and who have no personal or party in? 
terest to consult, will rejoice to see it superseded by any 
institution which promises to be of greater utility to the 
general cause. 



CH. XI.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 2.37 



CHAPTER XI. 

ANALYSIS OF THE CONVERSATIONS UPON CHRISTIAN 
IDOLATRY. THE DUKE OF GRAFTON CORRESPONDS 
WITH AND VISITS MR. LINDSEY, AND ATTENDS UNI- 
TARIAN WORSHIP. A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE PRO- 
GRESS OF THE DUKE'S OPINIONS, AND OF HIS REASONS 
AND MOTIVES FOR SECEDING FROM THE ESTABLISHED 
FORM. REFLECTIONS. 

The introduction of the charge of idolatry into the 
Society's Preamble having been much misunderstood 
and given great offence ; to obviate the objections and to 
correct the error, Mr. Lindsey published a small work in 
octavo, in 1792, entitled Conversations upon Christian 
Idolatry. The scene is laid in the house of Marcellinus, 
a gentleman of large fortune and great liberality of sen- 
timent, and the conversation is supposed to have taken 
place in his library after breakfast, between himself ; 
Volusian, an eminent barrister and moderate churchman ; 
Synesius, a person of great worth, who seldom attended 
public worship, but who was a zealous friend to a re- 
ligious establishment ; and Photinus, an enlightened and 
zealous Unitarian, who writes an account of the conver- 
sations to his friend Victorin. And the author leads his 
reader to understand, that the whole transaction had 
some foundation in fact. 

The dialogue begins with some severe animadver- 
sions upon the late disgraceful riots at Birmingham, the 
whole blame of which Marcellinus imputes to the opera- 
tion of the Test Act, and other laws against the dis- 
senters ; but is interrupted by Volusian, who, while he ex- 
presses his entire disapprobation of the Test Laws, and 
his indignation at the insults and injuries offered to Dr. 
Priestley, nevertheless expresses his suspicion, that " Dr. 



238 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XT. 



Priestley had contributed to excite the bad spirit which, 
however wrongly, had appeared against him ;" and par- 
ticularly by his late sermon at Hackney, in which he had 
" bluntly and peremptorily declared the worship of Jesus 
Christ to be idolatrous." Marcellinus defends Dr. P. upon 
his own principles, and represents him as " worthy to be 
remembered as a benefactor to mankind, particularly for 
the light which he has thrown upon theological subjects." 
But Volusian, without impeaching his moral character, 
regards a restless love of novelty as " evidently his fail- 
ing;" and " having been bred up in the belief that Jesus 
Christ is God, and to be worshiped, he cannot endure 
the rudeness and impertinence of the man who tells him 
that he is an idolater." Here Photinus interposes and 
puts the question seriously to Volusian, " whether he 
had ever searched the Scriptures to know how many 
Gods there are, and whether Jesus Christ was one?" 
This leads Volusian to the confession, that " he had not 
made the Scriptures his particular study;" — that, " in 
general, these theological matters are left to be set- 
tled by the divines, those especially of the upper ranks ;" 
and that, " at his time of life, he had no leisure, and less 
relish, for such intricate inquiries." This confession 
introduces from Photinus a serious remonstrance, and 
an earnest exhortation to study the Scriptures for him- 
self, in which he would very soon attain entire satisfac- 
tion concerning the God he is to worship. This ends 
the first Conversation. 

Volusian, much impressed with his friend's advice, 
goes home for a week under pretence of business, but 
passes the greater part of his time in reading -and 
studying the Scriptures with the greatest attention; in 
consequence of which he becomes a sincere proselyte 
to the faith, that there is but One God, the Father, the 
only proper Object of religious worship, and that Jesus 



CH. XI.] REVEREND THEOPHILTJS LINDSEY. 239 

Christ is the servant and faithful messenger of God, but 
not the object of worship; and, upon his return, he 
embraces the earliest opportunity of communicating his 
conversion to his friends. This constitutes the subject 
of the second day's Conversation ; in which Volusian is 
almost the only speaker, and details to his friends the 
principal arguments both from the Old Testament and 
the New, by which he was led to the conviction that " God 
is strictly One, one person : and the blessed Jesus no- 
thing but his favoured creature and servant." " Still, 
however wrong, he could not look upon himself as an 
idolater in the worship he had hitherto paid to Jesus 
Christ ; and though mistaken, he could not look upon 
himself to have been a wicked man, which that language 
implies." 

This of course forms the subject of the third day's 
Conversation ; in which Photinus replies at large to 
Volusian' s objection, that " idolatry is represented in the 
sacred writings as a heinous sin, an idea which he could 
not entertain of any who are sincere, however erroneous, 
in their worship of Jesus Christ." Photinus very justly 
remarks, that the idolatry against which the judgements 
of God were denounced, was that of the heathen, which 
was not a mere " speculative error, but attended with 
the most shocking vice and immorality;" whereas, " no- 
thing of this kind can be charged on the idolatrous 
worship of Christians, though the Almighty and infinite 
Being is dishonoured and degraded by it." And in 
answer to the question of Volusian, " to show wherein 
their idolatry lies," he states, that "idolatry consists in 
paying divine honours to a creature;" the doing which 
is a direct violation of the first commandment in the de- 
calogue, which is not only not repealed, but is solemnly 
confirmed by Christ. If, therefore, Jesus Christ be a 
creature, " to call him God, and to worship him, can be 



240 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XI. 



nothing less than idolatry." Synesius now interposing 
the observation, " that the members of the church of 
England are not idolaters ; because, though charged with 
worshiping three Gods, they are themselves persuaded 
that they worship only One," Photinus replies, that " if 
men's own thoughts will exculpate them, there never was 
such a thing as idolatry in the world;" for all idolaters, 
the worshipers for example of the Virgin Mary, are per- 
suaded that their worship is allowed by God. " Our con- 
victions concerning actions cannot make that right which 
is in itself wrong, though they will excuse us in doing it 
in proportion to the insuperable ignorance under which 
we labour." And in answer to Volusian's expression 
of anxiety at the great prevalence of christian idolatry, 
Photinus reminds his friend of the innocence of those 
who, through the error of education, are involuntarily 
involved in it; but adds, that " how far those are inno- 
cent who believing Jesus Christ to be a creature, do 
nevertheless customarily join with others in the worship 
of him as the Supreme God, is a very serious question." 
He then observes, and produces some very remarkable 
instances to prove, that the most orthodox in our own 
country have had no scruple of terming the worship of 
Christ to be idolatrous if he be a creature 5 *; and after a 
few general remarks the Conversation closes. 

* See Waterland's Defence, p. 231. 252. Dr. Hughes's Sermon at Salter's 
Hall, vol. ii. p 8. Whitaker's Origin of Arianism, p. 4, 5. The expressions 
of the last-cited author are very remarkable, " If," says he, " this doctrine 
of the Trinity be false, then nine-tenths of the Christians throughout every 
age and every country are guilty of idolatry, of idolatry more gross than that 
of the Papists at present 5 because, not merely the worship of saints and 
angels in subordination to God, but the worship of a creature along with the 
Creator; placing him equally with God on the throne of the universe'; giving 
God a partner in his empire, and so deposing God from half his sovereignty. ' 
These are the words of a zealous Trinitarian: surely, then, it becomes every 
one who offers divine worship to Jesus Christ, well to consider the ground 
upon which he stands: much more does it become the decided believer in 
the proper Unity of the great Object of worship, to flee from that which must 
in his own estimation, and even in that of those who are themselves wor- 
shipers of Christ, be gross idolatry. 



CH. XI.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 241 

The fourth Conversation discusses the question which 
Volusian tells his friends presses with much weight upon 
his mind, viz. " how a person should act upon discovering 
that the established worship of the country in which he 
was bred was idolatrous?" Synesius gives it as his 
opinion, that public worship should be abandoned alto- 
gether. For " all right worship is in the heart, and the 
moment you mix with others in the worship of God, 
you are in danger of being misled by a thousand fancies, 
and idle superstitious forms and practices." Photinus, in 
reply, vindicates public worship as a duty enjoined even 
by natural religion to keep up the knowledge of him in 
ourselves and others, and to cherish in our breasts that 
attention to him which is necessary for our present right 
conduct and comfort, and to qualify us for his favour 
hereafter;" that it was expressly required under the Mosaic 
institution, and authorized by the example of Christ and 
the practice of the apostles. Synesius, conceding this 
point to Photinus, contends, nevertheless, for joining in 
the established worship " out of the general principle of 
doing homage to the Creator. If there be any which 
you cannot conscientiously join in and repeat, you have 
only to adopt what you like, and pass over the rest, 
leaving it to those who are edified by it." Photinus 
allows that, for lesser matters, it would be peevish and 
hypercritical to dissent; but he maintains, and he sup- 
ports his argument by the authority of Archdeacon Paley, 
that, with respect to the Object of worship, there seems 
to be no latitude." And having been charged by Synesius 
with having spoken disrespectfully of the public Liturgy, 
he expresses high approbation of it as an excellent form 
of prayer ; but at the same time enters his strong protest 
against many parts of the Litany in particular, " which is 
ordered to be read every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, 
throughout the year;" in which " a variety of beings are 

R 



242 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XI. 



addressed in a manner utterly inconsistent with the first 
commandment; and our Saviour in particular " is wor- 
shiped as the Supreme God, and is addressed in such 
gross degrading language, as nothing but custom from 
early youth could reconcile any to use ;" and he con- 
clude^ his argument with asserting that all worship* 
excepting that addressed to the Supreme Being, is a 
direct violation of our Lord's express precept to his 
apostles, that they should teach men to observe all things 
whatsoever he commanded them. Volusian, who through 
the whole of this conversation had been a hearer only, 
now expresses his obligations to Synesius and Photinus 
for their temperate discussion of this important subject, 
and declares his entire conviction " that he can no longer 
with a quiet mind continue to frequent the worship of 
the church of England, or say one thing with his mouth 
to the all-seeing God, while his heart and better know- 
ledge mean another." Here the Conversation ends. 

In the beginning of the next letter Photinus describes 
to his correspondent Victorin the rise and progress of 
idolatry in the Christian church, and represents how very 
imperfectly the Reformation recovered the great body of 
Christians from this enormous error. He then proceeds 
to relate the subjects of the fifth day's Conversation, 
which Volusian begins with expressing his hope that the 
public sentiment would soon change, and a correspond- 
ing change be adopted in the public forms of worship. 
Marcellinus expresses very little expectation of this happy 
event, and relates to his friend the steps which Dr. Sa- 
muel Clarke had taken to reform the Liturgy, and the 
approbation of his plan by Archbishop Herring ; and in 
reply to the animadversion of Volusian he defends the 
character of Pr. Clarke, in continuing to officiate in the 
church I which however it is not improbable that he 
might have relinquished, if he had not succeeded in his 



CII. XI.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 243 

plan of reform. And to the inquiry of Volusian, how it 
would be advisable to act, especially in the country, with 
regard to public worship, Photinus refers with high ap- 
probation to the conduct of a gentleman, Mr Tayleur of 
Shrewsbury, who had used the reformed Liturgy first in 
his own house, and afterwards in a separate place of wor- 
ship; an example which had been followed by some others, 
and which it was hoped would continue to spread. The 
Conversation concludes with an interesting quotation 
from a late publication by a gentleman who had, upon 
principle, retired from his connexion with the established 
church. " Christian reader, this is no matter of barren 
speculation ; it strikes directly on our conduct through 
life, on a point of serious importance. The public wor- 
ship of God we all consider as a duty of indispensable 
obligation : and whether we shall perform this worship 
in the way most acceptable to him, and most conform- 
able to the precepts of the Sacred Writings, or in that 
way which best suits our indolence, or coincides with our 
interest; whether we shall pay to God the homage of an 
upright heart, or with gross negligence and solemn 
mockery publicly repeat what we cannot understand, and 
join in professing what we do not believe ; are subjects 
of inquiry which (however easy to determine) every Chris- 
tian, of whatever denomination, must acknowledge to be 
of high concern." 

In this work a question of considerable importance is 
treated with great judgement, impartiality, and modera- 
tion ; the characters of the speakers are well sustained, 
and every argument and objection are allowed their due 
weight. And no person can rise from a serious and at- 
tentive perusal of the Conversations upon Christian ido- 
latry, without feeling the conviction, that whatever al- 
lowance may be made for error, which is the result of in- 
vincible prejudice, it is the indispensable duty of every 

r 2 



244 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XI, 



one who believes in the Unity and Supremacy of God ? 
and that he is the proper and sole object of religious 
worship, and in the simple humanity of Jesus Christ, the 
servant and messenger of God, to withdraw from wor- 
ship which must to him necessarily be, and appear, ido- 
latrous, and, wherever opportunity presents, to join" with 
those, however small their number, however humble their 
condition, who, agreeably to the precept of their great 
master, associate for the worship of God the Father only. 

Some years before the venerable subject of this Me- 
moir retired from his office at Essex-street chapel, his 
ministry was statedly attended by the late Duke of Graf- 
ton. This illustrious nobleman appears, after his retire- 
ment from public life, upon the accession of the famous 
Coalition ministry in 1783, to have devoted a very con- 
siderable portion of his leisure hours to serious inquiry 
into the evidences of divine revelation, and into the con- 
tents of the holy Scriptures. To this he was impelled, 
as he himself declares in the papers which he drew up 
and printed chiefly for the information of his family, by 
the suspicion which his intercourse with the world raised 
in him, and which the observation of every day confirmed, 
that many persons, in the more elevated ranks of life 
especially, had little or no belief in the truth of the Chris- 
tian religion. The result of this inquiry was, that the 
Christian religion had been promulgated to mankind by 
a person sent by, and acting under, the authority of the 
Supreme Being ; and that this religion, having been cor- 
rupted from very early times by various means, and these 
corruptions having been mistaken for essential parts of 
it, had been the cause of rendering the whole religion 
incredible to many men of sense. The noble inquirer 
soon discovered that one of the plainest precepts, both 
of the Jewish and Christian revelations, was the worship 



CH. XI.] REVEREND THEOPHTLUS LINDSEY. 245 

of one God ; and that the public forms of worship in all 
the established churches in Christendom, not excepting 
that of our own country, contained a grievous deviation 
from this fundamental precept, by prescribing the wor- 
ship of two other persons, called the Son and the Holy 
Ghost, jointly with that of the Almighty Father, as being 
in all respects equal to him and consubstantial with Will . 
And it soon occurred to the inquisitive mind of this vir* 
tuous nobleman, that this was not a speculative discovery 
of little practical importance, but that to one who was a 
firm believer in the divine origin of the Christian reli- 
gion, it was attended with very serious consequences. 
Convinced upon the highest authority that Christianity 
required the worship of One God only, the Duke could 
no longer satisfy his mind to attend the worship of three 
Gods ; and it became a subject of anxious and even di- 
stressing inquiry, how far it was his duty, in the situation 
and rank which he held in his country, not only to de- 
sert the established mode of worship, but to join a sepa- 
rate congregation whose sole and professed bond of union, 
and ground of dissent, was the worship of the Father only. 
Upon this subject, and upon some others of a personal 
kind, this nobleman opened a confidential correspondence 
with the venerable Founder of the Essex-street congre- % 
gation ; in consequence of which, his difficulties being 
satisfactorily removed, he became a regular attendant at 
the chapel in Essex-street, and continued a serious and 
exemplary worshiper there till bad health and increasing 
infirmities confined him at home. 

It was not till some time after the Duke became a wor- 
shiper in Essex-street chapel that his peculiar intimacy 
and personal intercourse with the venerable pastor com- 
menced, which. continued unabated through the remain- 
der of Mr. Lindsey's life. This will be evident from the 
following extract, of a letter from his Grace dated June 4, 



24(5 MEMOIRS Ol THE LATE [c'H. XI. 

1769 s "The Duke of Grafton is much gratified by the 
acquaintance of Mr. Lindsey ; and though he would be 
very desirous to profit from it by taking the liberty of 
calling on him now and then for half an hour's conver- 
sation on serious subjects, he would at the same time be 
very unhappy to obtrude on his time. But if Mr. Lind- 
sey is so obliging as to allow him that advantage, the D. 
of G. would be much obliged to him if he would point 
out about what time of the morning or evening he is com- 
monly least engaged, and at which he is most likely to 
be found at leisure." The Duke after this became a fre- 
quent morning visitor at Essex House, and to the end 
of life he maintained a character worthy of his profession. 
After a long and painful decline the Duke expired at 
Euston, Suffolk, March 14, 181 1. A sermon was preach- 
ed upon the afflicting occasion at Essex-street chapel on 
the 24th by the author of this Memoir, which was af- 
terwards published, and which contains some further par- 
ticulars of this venerable and lamented nobleman. 

The Duke of Grafton at different times set down in 
writing the result of his inquiries, and his own reflections 
upon them, These extended from the year 1788 to the 
year 1797, and they contain a simple and interesting ac- 
count of the progress of a virtuous and intelligent inqui- 
rer in his pursuit after truth. These papers were printed 
in his own lifetime, but not published. A few copies 
were given by his Grace to select friends, but they were 
principally intended for the use of his own family. And 
he desires that six copies may be given to each of his ch\\- : 
dren, hoping that these may remind them of the true and 
honest sentiments of their father at different times in his 
better days, and that they may accustom themselves there-* 
by to improve their lives more and more every day by a 
study of the Scriptures, 

The first paper is dated December 1788. The Duke 



CII. XI.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LlNDSEV. 247 

was at that time, from the best search he was able to 
make into the holy writings, confirmed in the belief that 
"there is but One God only who ought to be acknow- 
ledged and worshiped as such by all his creatures, and 
that he is the Creator and Governor of the Universe." 
But at this time he appears not to have completely made 
up his mind upon the subject of the p re-existence cf 
Christ. "I do," says he, " most sincerely believe in Jesus 
Christ, and am convinced that lie was the Messiah, and 
sent by our heavenly Father that the glad tidings should 
be made known to all mankind." The noble writer adds, 
" Whether Christ pre-existed at all or not, in what man- 
ner, or from what time, I find in Scripture no sufficient 
ground or necessity to make this point a matter of faith, 
and this both comforts and rejoiceth me. It may not, 
perhaps, be displeasing to God that pious or learned, and 
well-intentioned persons should ruminate and form their 
conjectures upon these high subjects ; but I conceive that 
no man should offer, for the belief of others, his opinions 
on them, but with the utmost deference, and adducing 
proof from Scripture sufficient to justify his way of think- 
ing." He concludes this paper with great humility and 
piety in the following words : " If I am in any error, and 
under any mistake in these sentiments, I earnestly beg 
of Almighty God that I may be convinced of it, and that 
he will pardon in me my ignorance, and that he will en- 
lighten my understanding by his Holy Spirit and lead 
me into the way of truth, establishing me in the same 
more and more every day." In a sort of postscript to this 
paper the Duke expresses his ' 4 humble judgement, 5 ' that 
the example of Christ is more impressive and efficacious 
upon the supposition of his " having been a man liable 
as we are to all the weakness of human nature, but to 
whom God gave not the spirit by measure." 

In another paper dated December 25, 1789., his Grace 



248 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH, XI. 

remarks, i( that the service for the Lord's Supper is not 
cleared from some things which deter numbers from join- 
ing in that holy rite. A few omissions in the prayers 
would render this service very suitable to comprehend 
large denominations of Christians, who cannot join with 
the congregation at present and acquit themselves to their 
own consciences, and who cannot bring their minds to 
do as I have this day done, by joining devoutly where I 
could, and in humble silence submitting myself, where I 
could not join, to the direction of that light which it has 
pleased God to grant unto me." 

This practice of joining in a religious service in many 
respects so very exceptionable, and 5 as a Unitarian must 
thinks even idolatrous, cannot perhaps be strictly justi- 
fied, even with the mental reservation which this virtuous 
nobleman exercised when he joined in the solemnity. 
But it is most evident that he acted under a sense of duty; 
and that, far from condemning those who could not in 
consciencejoin in communion with the established church, 
he wishes that the service might be so altered as to ob- 
viate their objections. Surely, then, it ill becomes those 
who judge perhaps more correctly, and who act more 
consistently in abstaining from such worship, to censure 
others with severity who think it their duty to attend 
what they justly deem a corrupt, and in many respects 
an unscriptural form of worship, rather than entirely fore- 
go the benefit of religious institutions, or exhibit an ex- 
ample of the total neglect of christian ordinances which 
may be misunderstood^ and may mislead the lower orders 
of society. Happy is he who condemneth not himself 
in the thing which he alloweth. Let every one be a se- 
vere judge of his own conduct^ and candid in his estimate 
of others. 

In a paper dated December 30, 1790, the noble writer 
declares his now firm conviction, that " Jesus was a man, 



OH. IX.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS .LINDSEY. 249 

one in our own nature, and that his example and pre- 
cepts were designed to direct us in our duty^ as well as 
to afford the greatest possible consolation and encourage- 
ment in the regular discharge of it." 

In the next paper, which is dated January 1791, the 
Duke, having stated that he by no means would be un- 
derstood to represent the proper humanity of Christ as 
a doctrine essential to salvation, adds, " yet I cannot but 
think that a belief in the divinity of Christ, and the invo- 
cation of him as God, is displeasing to the Almighty, as 
breaking his first great and unrepealed command ; and 
that every man who wilfully neglects to inquire has much 
to answer for ; and much more those who have presumed 
to fetter his creatures by forcing them in their belief* 
Let ministers and teachers of religion, let fathers of fa- 
milies and others who are enforcing the belief of a mys- 
tical union in the godhead, let them be aware, that they 
are using a most unwarrantable authority over the con- 
sciences of their fellow-creatures, for which they will be 
ultimately to answer to the Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, to the One only true God, who on this very head 
has been pleased to style himself a jealous God; and also, 
that if they should be in an error, as I conceive them to 
be, they become dangerously responsible for the restraints 
which they have presumed to lay upon the consciences 
of others." 

I transcribe the whole of the memorandum dated 
March 5, 1791, as expressive both of this virtuous noble- 
man's enlightened views and deep humility. " On the 
truth of the Christian dispensation and religion I confi- 
dently rest my hopes of immortality ; and with thankful- 
ness for so great a boon I trust to the mercy of God to- 
wards me, who stand so much in need of it." 

In a paper dated January \, 1792, the Duke expresses 
a belief that the exaltation of Christ to dominion and 



•250 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[ch. to. 



authority, was the consequence of his submission to those 
sufferings which "were so efficacious, perhaps so neces- 
sary, to his own glory and to the future happiness of man- 
kind." His mind seems at this time to have been per- 
plexed with some obscure notion of the unscriptural doc- 
trines of meritorious sufferings, and of the external au- 
thority of Jesus Christ ; which, however, he regards as a 
mystery which " it will probably never be given to man 
in the present state" to understand, and which therefore 
" must consequently be ranked among those articles the 
belief of which cannot be necessary to salvation." 

In a paper dated April 2 1 , of the same year, the Duke 
represents himself as differing from some with whom he 
generally agrees, in believing that Jesus Christ in his 
present state can hear and help us. At the same time 
he adds : " I presume, and do firmly believe, that he 
would be offended at being addressed by any of his fol- 
lowers as an object of that divine worship which, as I 
conceive, the Scriptures represent to be due only to the 
Almighty Father and Creator, the ever-living God." 

The difference upon this subject between his Grace and 
the theological friends to whom he refers, was probably 
merely nominal. Agreeing with the noble writer in the 
great principle that Jesus Christ is not the proper object 
of worship, they would be far from presuming to limit 
the extent of his knowledge or his power in his present 
exalted state. 

In a paper dated June 10, of the same year, the Duke, 
after expressing his firm belief in the inspiration of the 
prophets, and of the information communicated to the 
apostles by the instructions of Christ and, the gifts of the 
holy spirit, proceeds to state his objections to " the no- 
tion generally inculcated concerning the perpetual inspi- 
ration of the apostles and evangelists, which," says he, 
" I humbly conceive has much more assisted the cause of 



CH. XI.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 251 

infidelity: which, in its turn, will recede In proportion 
as our divines, becoming every day more liberal in their 
opinions, shall advance to a candid admission that the 
apostles were fallible, and not at all times directed by the 
holy spirit." 

In a paper dated June 10, 1794, the noble writer states, 
that his " own unenlightened reason had ever revolted 
against the church doctrine of Original sin, as wholly in- 
compatible with the attributes of a benevolent and om- 
nipotent God." He adds : " and my mind received great 
comfort when I found that Scripture, so far from justi- 
fying an idea so derogatory to the honour and glory of 
the Deity, does, through its whole tenour, furnish ample 
ground for concluding against this sad and, I trust, un- 
supported doctrine." After this he proceeds to state 
some of those passages which, in his view, appeared to 
be most irreconcileable to this popular opinion, particu- 
larly Matt, xviii. 3. xix. 4. Luke xviii. 17. 

The paper dated March 1795, contains rather an ela- 
borate disquisition upon the subject of the redemption of 
sinners by the death of Christ, which seems to have 
pressed very much upon the mind of the noble writer, 
He discards the common notion of vicarious suffering and 
satisfaction. He conceives that " Scripture redemption 
consists in a deliverance from the practice and guilt of 
sin to be effected by sincere repentance, followed by total 
amendment of life, to which the merciful goodness of 
God has vouchsafed to annex the forgiveness of all past 
sins and offences." "That which propitiates God, is the 
forsaking of sin and newness of life. If so, may not 
Christ, who teaches us this method of being reconciled, 
be fairly and properly called the propitiation of our sins ?" 

In a paper dated April 17, 1796, the noble writer ex- 
presses his decided conviction, that if doctrines are un- 
intelligible, the belief of them cannot be necessary to sal- 



252 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[Cfl. XT. 



vation. " Arrogant indeed," says he, " is the theology 
of those who would inforce the belief of superstitious, or 
inexplicable, opinions as divine truths, annexing the hard 
alternative of eternal punishment. Far otherwise, I be- 
lieve, speaks the conciliating language of the gospel of 
our benevolent Lord and Master." 

The paper dated March 14, 1797, represents the ex- 
pectation of a future life, founded on the natural immor- 
tality of the soul, as involved in inextricable difficulties ; 
<e whereas he who believes in the truth of Christianity, 
and who confides in the assurances of the gospel, has no 
occasion to fly to any metaphysical disquisitions ; for he 
feels at once that God, who was able to create him origi- 
nally, has promised through Jesus Christ to raise him 
again to life at the last day ; that he who has done the 
first has equally power to perform the second, and has 
given an irrefragable proof of it by the resurrection of 
Jesus himself from the dead." 

The conclusion, which, though it has no date, appears 
to have been written in the year 1797, begins with a most 
ingenuous and affecting apology to the noble writer's 
friends, acquaintance, and to the world in general, for 
embracing a form of public worship differing essentially 
from that of the church in which he was bred ; expressing 
his deep sense of the responsibility which he incurred by 
it, his entire satisfaction in the choice which he had made, 
his earnest regret that he had not turned his serious at- 
tention to the subjects of religion earlier in life, and his 
ardent desire that what he writes may be instrumental in 
rousing others to an earlier attachment to the pure reli- 
gion of the gospel. As this introduction has been cited 
at length in the discourse which was published by the 
author of this Memoir upon occasion of the lamented 
decease of the noble Duke, it is unnecessary to repeat it 
here. 



CH. XI.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 25.3 

The noble writer goes on to animadvert upon the egre- 
gious error of those who, regarding religion chiefly as an 
engine of state, expect to establish good order by the help 
of it, without "reviewing the Articles and Liturgy, and 
presenting to the people a purer Christianity not liable to 
the formidable attacks which are daily made upon the 
present system." The remainder of this paper is taken 
up in commenting upon the first article in the Church 
of England, which teaches that "in the Unity of the 
Godhead there be three persons of one substance, power, 
and eternity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost 
and in showing how repugnant this doctrine is. to the de- 
claration of the apostle that "there is One God, and one 
mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." 
After this:the noble writer severely condemns the dam- 
natory clauses of the Athanasian creed, which y though it 
still remains as a creed required from those who profess 
to be of the Church of England, had no existence till a 
hundred years after the Council of Nice, and was not 
admitted even into the Church of Rome till the tenth 
century. 

Having expatiated somewhat at large upon these sub- 
jects, he adds : " My objections are weighty against the 
Article of the church on original or birth sin, against the 
doctrine maintained relative to good works done before 
justification having the nature of sin, against that on pre- 
destination, and some others. But I trust I . have said 
enough, without now entering on these, to prove that, if 
I be in the wrong, it is with an honest and firm desire of 
searching for the truth." "It is from the Scriptures 
alone," continues this illustrious inquirer after truth, and 
with these remarks he closes his interesting volume, "it 
is from the Scriptures alone that we can know the re- 
vealed will of God ; and it is from thence I venture to 
draw my justification for wishing to join in communion 



254 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. XT, 

with a church which will admit of no article of faith that 
is not expressed in the very words of Scripture ; no creed 
which disclaims the right of private judgement in the 
concern of religion, and still more, which allows the right 
of persecuting any human creature for conscience sake." 

As there is little reason to expect that these interest- 
ing papers will be soon published, the writer of this Me- 
moir thought that it would be acceptable to his readers 
to exhibit this brief abstract of their contents, accompa- 
nied with a few specimens of the observations them- 
selves ; and in so doing he is convinced that he complies 
with the expressed desire of the noble writer, that " not 
only his friends and acquaintance, but the world in ge- 
neral, might know that he embraced a form of public 
worship essentially different from that of the church in 
which he was bred, not hastily and through levity, but 
with all the consideration and investigation which so aw- 
ful a decision required ;" and that what he wrote " might 
be instrumental in rousing others to an earlier attachment 
to the pure religion of the gospel, and to remember their 
Creator in the days of their youth." And it cannot be 
doubted that the noble writers vindication of his conduct 
must be perfectly satisfactory to every serious, liberal, and 
enlightened mind, how strange and unaccountable soever 
such conduct and such reasoning may appear to a gay 
and a thoughtless world. 

Indeed, that a person of the Duke of Grafton's elevated 
rank in society, who had filled the principal offices of 
the. state, and who was allied by birth, and associated by 
habits of familiar intercourse, with the first nobility of 
the land, should, in the vigour of life, sit down calmly to 
study the Scriptures ; that, in consequence of this, he 
should embrace a system of Christianity widely different 
from the popular creed ; that, impelled by a commanding 
sense of duty, he should secede from the church esta- 



CH. XI,] REVEREND THEOPHTLUS LINDSEY. 255 

blished by law, in which he had been educated, and to 
the worship and constitution of which he was affection- 
ately attached ; that he should publicly unite himself to 
a society of Christians not then tolerated by the state, 
which existed by connivance only, and the principles of 
which are held in public disrepute ; whose primary prin- 
ciple and professed bond is the unrivalled supremacy and 
the sole worship of God the Father, as revealed and 
taught by his faithful servant and messenger Jesus 
Christ, indicates perhaps as pure a principle of integrity, 
and as high a degree of mental vigour and christian for- 
titude, as can be conceived to exist. It may even be 
questioned, whether the noble sacrifice made by Mr. 
Lindsey of all his preferments in the church and his pro- 
spects in life, or the calm and dignified self-possession of 
Dr. Priestley under calumny and persecution, discovered 
a more generous and intrepid spirit in the cause of Truth ? 
In all the changes of their fortune, and amidst the se- 
verest trials of their constancy, these christian heroes 
were encompassed with friends who stood by them, who 
kept them in countenance, who protected them from, or 
who shared with them in, the contumely and the insult 
of their misguided opponents. But the Duke of Grafton 
stood alone — the Abdiel of the sacred cause. He had no 
one to join him, no one to stand by him, no one to share 
in the reproach ; and yet he persevered. And though he 
fully understood, and feelingly describes, the delicacy and 
responsibility of his situation, he at the same time attests 
the unspeakable satisfaction which he experienced from 
a faithful adherence to the dictates of an enlightened 
conscience. Had the Duke been a religionist only, and 
without inquiry or discrimination continued a believer in 
the popular creed and a frequenter of the established wor- 
ship, his conversion, so far from being a subject of re- 



256 



MEMOIR S OF TH E LATE 



[CH. XI. 



proach, would have been blazoned to the world with 
every mark of honour and applause. Nor would he have 
wanted associates even among persons of his own rank ? 
who generally, and almost unavoidably, confounding the 
Christian religion with the creeds and catechisms and 
other articles of human device to which they are accus- 
tomed, when they become religious, too often degenerate 
into narrow bigots to the tenets of their childhood. But 
the Duke of Grafton disdained" to take his religion upon 
trust. His superior mind examined the Scripture for it- 
self. And having discovered Truth, he valued it most 
highly ; he held it fast, and would upon no consideration 
part with it. By an habitral attendance upon a form 
of public worship addressed exclusively to the One God, 
even the Father, he calmly but firmly avowed his princi- 
ples ; and to all who had the happiness of knowing hirn ? 
he exhibited their powerful and beneficial influence in a 
virtuous and christian life. 

Some have affected to believe that this virtuous noble- 
man was not thoroughly consistent, and that he did not 
carry his principles to their proper extent. Suffice it to 
say, in reply to these ungenerous insinuations, that the 
Duke of Grafton at all times acted up to his own ideas 
of consistency and rectitude, though his judgement might 
not entirely correspond with that of his accusers. Let 
such persons recollect what this illustrious nobleman did, 
before they presume to arraign him for what he did not. 
And it may not be unbecoming those who are so very 
sharp-sighted in discovering a mote in the eye of ano- 
ther, to consider well whether there may not at the same 
time be a beam In their own. 



CH. XII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



257 



CHAPTER XII. 

MR. LINDSEY PUBLISHES A NEW AND REFORMED EDI- 
TION OF HIS LITURGY ; RESIGNS HIS OFFICE AT ESSEX- 
STREET CHAPEL. HIS FAREWELL SERMON PUBLISHED, 
BUT NOT PREACHED. INTERESTS HIMSELF IN FAVOUR 
OF THOSE WHO SUFFERED BY UNJUST STATE PROSE- 
CUTIONS. CASES OF FYSHE PALMER, MUIR, AND WIN- 
TERBOTHAM. 

Early in the year 1793, Mr. Lindsey, at that time ap- 
proaching the term assigned by the sacred writer as the 
usual limit of human life, or at least of the active and 
useful portion of it, and being secretly but firmly resolved, 
though in a high state of health and vigour corporeal and 
intellectual, to retire from public service in his seventieth 
year, he revised and printed a fourth edition of the Re- 
formed Liturgy, that he might bequeath it to his bereav- 
ed flock, as containing the last corrections, and the most 
approved sentiments, of their faithful and affectionate 
pastor. He introduced it with a sermon delivered upon 
the occasion in the month of April in that year, and 
which he afterwards published. In this sermon, after 
giving a judicious account of the duty, the reasonable- 
ness, and the efficacy of prayer, he proceeds to state the 
nature and the grounds of the alterations which he had 
made in this new edition of the Reformed Liturgy. They 
were indeed not inconsiderable. He had omitted what 
is called the Apostles' Creed, and the three invocations 
in the Litany. 

After stating the preference which the Society in Es- 
sex-street give to Forms of prayer, he observes that "one 
capital inconvenience belongs to this mode of worship : 
viz. that forms of prayer drawn up in one age, through 
greater improvements made by the study of the sacred 

s 



258 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XU» 

writings, may become improper to be used ; and things 
of this nature once established, are too apt on that very 
account to be held sacred, and by no means to be changed: 
by which, serious thinking persons are often brought into 
great difficulties. The proper remedy would be, fre- 
quently to revise public devotional forms of human in- 
stitution, and to correct and bring them nearer to the 
Scripture model.'* And having glanced at the ineffec- 
tual attempts which had been made in the seventeenth 
and eighteenth centuries for the reformation of the esta- 
blished Liturgy, he reminds his readers that Dr. Samuel 
Clarke's amendments of the Book of Common Prayer 

had been adopted by the Society in Essex-street chapel*, 

r j | 

* Mr. Lindsey observes in a note, that it is very probable that Dr. Clarke's 
Reformed Liturgy was approved by King George II., certainly by his consort 
Queen Caroline ) that Dr. Herring, archbishop of Canterbury, gave it the 
fullest and highest commendations in a letter to the amiable and excellent 
Dr. Jortin ; and that it also received very signal tokens of approbation from 
a learned and venerable prelate, lately deceased, (probably Bishop Law,) the 
intimate frietid of Dr. Jortin. " And I cannot surfer myself to doubt," con* 
tinues the venerable writer, " that whenever the people of Great Britain 
shall calmly weigh the reasons offered, they will be earnest to attain such an 
important alteration in their public form of prayer, so easily accomplished : 
a circumstance fervently wished for by many of the clergy of the church of 
England twenty years ago, when I ceased to be one of them, and now much 
longed for by many of its lay members." 

May I be permitted to suggest, how much wiser it would be, in the pre- 
sent critical period, when the church is alarmed, and not without reason, a* 
the rapid growth of nonconformity in various shapes, instead of anxiously 
devising means to shore up a system of doctrine and worship, which no 
effort of human ingenuity can support in opposition to the liberal and inqui- 
sitive spirit of this enlightened period, to open the doors of the established 
church to learned and conscientious inquirers, by substituting the Scriptures 
in the place of the Articles, and reforming the Liturgy upon the plan of Dr. 
Clarke's, so as to contain nothing unscriptural, or offensive to the judicious 
and serious worshiper ? The Church of England would then be built upon a 
rock, and might bid defiance to all assailants. Nor would it then exhibit the 
extraordinary phenomenon of the whole body of the clergy setting them- 
selves in array against the laudable efforts of a humble individual for the in- 
struction of the poor, assigning for their conduct this singular reason, that of 
a system which teaches the Scriptures only, without the aid of the Catechism 
and Liturgy, "the natural consequence must be to alienate the minds of the 
people from, or render them indifferent to," the " doctrine and discipline of 
the established church." See the Preamble to the Catalogue of Subscribers 
to the National Society for the Education of the Poor, in the Morning Chro- 
nicle for Dee. 28, ISi l. 



CH. XII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 259 

but not without " some alterations and improvements in 
the different editions of the Reformed Liturgy," which 
had hitherto met with the approbation of the Society, he 
had no doubt that the same approbation would be ex- 
tended to the changes introduced into the present edi- 
tion ; the reasons for which he proceeds to state. 

" The first omission is that of the Creed, concerning 
which I would observe to you that I had thought of leav- 
ing it out when our worship first began in this place ; 
but it was retained at the suggestion of judicious friends, 
lest without further examination or inquiry we should on 
that account be represented as a society of mere Deists, 
and other Christians be deterred from uniting with us. 
But I persuade myself that it has been long seen that 
there are no grounds for such an imputation." 

The author then proceeds to assign the following rea- " 
sons for not continuing this creed as a part of public 
worship. " 1 . It was not written by the apostles, and 
therefore is of no authority. 2. It is very wrong and un- 
warrantable to put persons upon making a profession of 
their faith in assemblies for christian worship. 3. No 
man, or number of men together, have any authority to 
make a creed for others. 4. The imposition of creeds in 
all ages has been the cause of great mischief and dissen- 
sion, and a constant snare to honest minds who are tied 
down to them." 

" The other omission is in the beginning of the Li- 
tany, where the three invocations are changed into one. 
Many persons of high estimation for learning, judgement, 
and piety, favourers of Dr. Clarke's Liturgy, have always 
esteemed it a great oversight and blemish therein, that 
when that celebrated person rejected the Trinity from the \ 
Liturgy he should so far accommodate himself to the doc- 
trine he exploded as to retain three different invocations 

s 2 



260 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XI f. 

in form, which carry to common heedless persons a sort 
of appearance of the Trinity." 

The Liturgy thus amended was gladly accepted by Mr. 
Lindsey's congregation, and continued to be used in the 
Chapel till the year 1802, when it was superseded by a 
Liturgy drawn up and introduced by his successor the 
Rev. Dr. John Disney. But though this Liturgy was ju- 
dicious, unexceptionable, and, as many thought, in some 
respects an improvement upon the former, yet, from the 
modern style of the language, and other circumstances, 
and particularly from its wide deviation from the esta- 
blished Liturgy, it was not so acceptable to the congre- 
gation, as that of the venerable founder of the Society. 
And upon the choice of a successor to Dr. Disney, upon 
that gentleman's resignation in the year 1805, the gene- 
ral wish of the Trustees and the congregation was ex- 
pressed to resume Mr. Lindsey's Liturgy ; which was ac- 
cordingly acceded to ; and a few alterations, chiefly ver- 
bal, being made, to which that excellent person gave a 
cordial assent, a new edition was printed, a copy of which 
was locked up with the writings of the Chapel, and a re- 
solution passed that no further alteration should be made, 
nor any new form of worship be introduced, without the 
express consent of a majority of the Trustees*. 

Mr. Lindsey having now completely made up his mind 
upon the subject of his resignation, in the beginning of 
the summer addressed a circular letter to the Trustees, 
of which the following is an extract : 

<c Dear Sir,— I beg leave to address you in the capa- 

*This cannot with justice be regarded as any infiingement upon the rights 
of conscience ; for, as the Trustees have the disposal of the Chapel property, 
they have a right to annex what terms they please to the grant, consistently 
with the tenor of the trust with which they are invested. And this condition 
was approved by the original grantor of the premises, Mr. Lindsey, who was 
then living. 



€H. XII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 261 

city of a Trustee for the Chapel in Essex-street, and to 
inform you of my intention of resigning my office of mi- 
nister of it. 

ct My advanced age and growing infirmities have for 
some time intimated to me the Tightness and necessity 
of this step; but as I was enabled to perform the service, 
I thought it my duty to accomplish two points previous 
to my retiring from my station." 

The points to which the writer alludes were a renewal 
of the Trust, and a complete repair of the whole premises, 
which had been done in the best manner possible. Hav- 
ing stated these circumstances for the information of the 
Trustees, Mr. Lindsey adds, " I have fixed the middle of 
July next for the time of my resignation : — and I am 
happy in having a candidate as a successor in my col- 
league, Dr. Disney, whose zeal for the principle upon 
which the Society was founded, and whose abilities, as- 
siduity, and acceptableness to you and the congregation, 
in the discharge of his duty, have been for a long time 
ascertained." 

In this simple and unostentatious manner did this 
pious veteran resign his connexion with a congregation 
which he had served faithfully for nearly twenty years, 
during which period he had enjoyed the unintermitted 
veneration and attachment of every member of the So- 
ciety, both old and young, and had been witness to the 
progress of those principles, to the propagation of which 
his life had been devoted, and for the sake of which he 
had made the greatest sacrifices, to an extent far exceed- 
ing his most sanguine expectation, both in his own So- 
ciety and in the world, and in a great measure by means 
of his own labours and writings. 

To Mr. Lindsey's letter of resignation the Trustess of 
the Chapel returned the following appropriate and re- 
spectful answer : 



262 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XII. 



" The Trustees for the Chapel in Essex-street at this 
time in London, having received a circular letter from 
the reverend Mr. Lindsey declaring his intention to re- 
sign his office as minister of that Chapel on the fifteenth 
day of J uly next, resolve, That together with their sin- 
cere regret on the occasion, their very affectionate ac- 
knowledgements, in the names of themselves and the 
absent Trustees, be presented to him for the rare and 
noble example which he gave to the professors of genuine 
Christianity, when he sacrificed the honours and emolu- 
ments of the Established Church, in compliance with 
the dictates of his conscience ; for his active zeal in the 
cause of truth, manifested by the institution of the Re- 
ligious Society in Essex-street; for the able and disin- 
terested services by which he has raised it to its present 
state of prosperity ; for the distinguished spirit of bene- 
volence and piety which hath uniformly marked his dis- 
charge of the duties of his office, and endeared him to 
all under his pastoral care ; and also for his attention 
to the future prosperity of the Institution by introdu- 
cing to the Society his worthy colleague the Reverend 
Dr. Disney." 

Upon this interesting occasion Mr. Lindsey com- 
posed a judicious and suitable discourse, which, how- 
ever, he would not trust himself to deliver from the 
pulpit, finding himself, as he expresses it, " too tenderly 
impressed with taking leave of so many indulgent friends 
to be capable of personally addressing them with any 
tolerable degree of vigour*." This discourse, there- 



* In a letter to Dr. Toulmin, dated July 8, 1/93, Mr. Lindsey thus ex- 
presses himself: " I take my final leave "of the pulpit in this chapel on 
Sunday next, in the morning, and shall endeavour to say something suitable, 
though without any hint of bidding farewell, which my own nerves would 
not bear; and many kind friends of those who are not yet gone into the 
country say, that they must keep away from the chapel if I do any thing of 
this kind." 



CH, XII.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 



263 



fore, was published and distributed among his friends, 
and to the members of his congregation. In the exor- 
dium he states, that " having now attained the term of 
life when the human faculties naturally lose their vigour, 
and decay, and being in the twentieth year of his happy 
services as their minister, it is now time to withdraw, 
and meet the unavoidable infirmities of nature in a pri- 
vate station ; " and having assigned his reasons why he 
declined the pressing solicitations of many of his friends 
to continue his public services, with any additional as- 
sistance that he might require, he takes for his text 
those words in the Lord's Prayer, " Thy kingdom," or 
rather, " Thy reign come," professing his ardent wish 
upon this occasion to impress his readers with a sense 
of the importance of the principle by which we distin- 
guish ourselves from other Christians, and of the obliga- 
tions which it lays upon us to the practice of piety and 
all virtue." In the progress of his discourse the pious 
and learned writer professes to show that the Gospel 
being from God it must prevail ; — that its success is to 
be gradual 3— that a principal obstacle to the progress of 
the Gospel is the making of Jesus Christ the Supreme 
God, and worshiping him. Here he introduces a brief 
history of the long and lasting corruption of so funda- 
mental a doctrine of the Gospel as the Unity of God, 
and of its revival after a seemingly total extinction of it ; 
and shows that this corrupt doctrine concerning Christ 
is the cause of atheism and infidelity among Christians; 
from which he infers that it is only by the revival and 
spreading of the strict doctrine of the Divine Unity that 
the kingdom of God, or the Gospel of Christ, can be 
fully established in the world :— and upon this the vene- 
rable writer justly and forcibly remarks, that " it is not 
any religious sentiment, any opinion of our own, which 
is frequently objected to us, that excites our zeal. In 



264 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XII, 



contending for the strict Unity of God, and that Jesus, 
his messenger to us, was a man like ourselves, we con- 
tend for the gospel itself, as in this enlightened age 
serious and rational inquirers are not likely to be recon- 
ciled to any other form of Christianity 

Having thus established the great importance of the 
Unitarian doctrine, this venerable apostle of primitive 
truth proceeds to state, that holiness of life is indispen- 
sably necessary for promoting the success of the Gospel ; 
and especially, " the most perfect benevolence towards 
all other Christians, and all men." He laments over 
the prevalence of an intolerant spirit among Christians 
in all ages, and particularly alludes to the disgraceful 
scenes which had been lately acted at Birmingham. " He 
flatters himself, notwithstanding, that this hostile, bar- 
barous temper is by no means generally prevalent, but 
that a spirit of candour and gentle forbearance is gone 

* Under this head the venerable writer remarks, " You will perceive 
that your duty to Christ and to truth requires you to do nothing whereby 
youmay encourage such undue sentiments of him, especially not to frequent 
the worship of him as God, when you are absolutely convinced that he is 
not entitled to such regards, and expressly requires you to pay them to God 
only." 

In a note the author observes that " the apostle Paul, in his adjudication 
of a case where any doubt remained upon the mind concerning the lawful- 
ness of an action, has given it entirely against compliance. Whatever is 
not of faith is of sin." Rom. jriv. 14, 22, 23. He adds, " It must be 
owned, however, that there may be peculiar situations in life, which may 
incline some to doubt whether greater good may not accrue from an Unita- 
rian Christian sometimes attending Trinitarian worship. The instances can 
be but rare. But where this is done, the persons should act without dis- 
guise, and let their real sentiments be known — as in. the remarkable case 
of the captain of the army of the king of Syria. 2 Kings v. 17, 18. The 
safe side, however, is to refrain entirely." 

The question is indeed of very difficult solution. The case of Naaman, to 
which the writer alludes, will scarcely be allowed to have much weight in 
the decision. The Syrian courtier states his own purpose : and the pro- 
phet, having no authority over a heathen, dismisses him courteously. But 
this will by no means amount to a justification of a Unitarian joining habi- 
tually in Trinitarian worship. How far this may be lawful when no other 
worship is accessible, is a question of great nicety, of which every one must 
form a judgement for himself ; nor has any one a right to arraign the con- 
duct of another. Happy is he who condernneth not himself in the thing 
which he alloweth. 



CH. XII.] REVEREND THEOFHILUS LINDSEY. 2G5 

forth, and spreading itself silently through the nation;" 
of which " the place of public worship in which we as- 
semble is no small proof. Although it is founded upon 
the principle of the worship of the church established 
being directed to wrong objects, and such as we cannot 
conscientiously frequent, there is not perhaps a Christian 
society in this great city, for its numbers, more respec- 
table or more respected than ours ; and such it has been 
from the very first of its institution." The pious writer 
adds, what it is to be hoped that all his successors in 
office, and all who do now, or who may hereafter join in 
the religious services of that society of which he was the 
founder, will practically remember, 66 1 have no doubt of 
our going on to be more and more respected, whilst we 
adhere to the just and liberal principle with which we 
first set out, and from which I have never knowingly 
deviated, viz. never to arraign or condemn other churches 
or Christian societies for their different worship or opi- 
nions, who have a right to judge for themselves as much 
as you have." 

The conclusion is interesting and very appropriate. 
It is too long to be wholly transcribed, but it is hoped 
that no apology will be thought necessary for inserting 
a few extracts. 

" And now, brethren, I bid you finally farewell. And 
having for many years earnestly desired and endeavoured, 
however weakly, to serve you in the Gospel of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, and to promote your virtue and everlasting 
happiness, I commit you to God and his over-ruling 
providence ; for, however diligently others may plant and 
water, the increase and the fruits are to be expected from 
him. 

" I can never be sufficiently thankful to the bounty 
of Divine -Providence in raising up a number of serious 
and generous friends, when alone, and destitute of all 



266 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. XII 



rneans to set on foot this place of worship, to concur in 
the design, and for all the support continued by them 
and others to the present day. 

" Happy, thrice happy, if both they who have been 
called away before us, and we that are left, may be found 
worthy objects of the divine mercy, and meet together 
at the resurrection of the last day, never to be separated 
more ! And as no energies in the cause of truth and 
virtue are lost, we may perhaps have the felicity to per- 
ceive, that we, in our narrow spheres, have been honour- 
ed with being made instruments of good in the hands 
of our Maker. And particularly, that our humble and 
honest testimony against so early and lasting a corrup- 
tion of the honour and worship due to him alone, had 
its beneficial effects in the great, scheme of his provi- 
dence, in bringing forward that more perfect state of 
things which we look for, when knowledge shall increase, 
and benevolence be universal." 

Such were the pious and benevolent sentiments which 
this venerable teacher of truth and righteousness express- 
ed, and endeavoured to inculcate upon the minds of his 
congregation when he took his final leave pf the pulpit, 
and closed those public and paternal addresses of which 
they had so often been the attentive and delighted 
hearers. 

Some of Mr. Lindsey ? s friends who were witnesses to 
his almost unabated vigour, both of body and mind, 
could hardly excuse him for thus prematurely, as they 
thought, withdrawing himself from an office the duties 
of which he was so fully competent to discharge. But 
this resignation of his public ministry was no hasty step. 
It had long been a settled principle with Mr. Lindsey 
and his friend Dr. Priestley, and, to the best of the au- 
thor's recollection, of their common friend Dr. Price, 
that at the age of seventy it was expedient for ministers 



CH. XTI.J REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 267 



to retire from public service, even though their faculties 
should appear to be in full vigour, and that they should 
not wait till resignation became necessary in consequence 
of bodily or of mental decay. After the age of three- 
score and ten the faculties cannot long remain unim- 
paired, and the decline of physical or intellectual capa- 
city is often more apparent to others than to a person 
himself. Often were they accustomed to speak with re- 
gret of ministers whose age and infirmities would have 
made retirement eligible, but who were necessitated to 
continue in office for the sake of a scanty subsistence ; 
and still more did they deplore the case of those whose 
incapacity and incompetency to the duties of their office 
were obvious to every one but themselves. They disap- 
proved the injudicious partiality of friends who were 
urging aged ministers to official duties to which their 
strength was not equal ; and they highly applauded the 
discretion and firmness of those ministers, who, like their 
late friend, the learned Hugh Farmer, having once re- 
signed the pulpit upon account of age and infirmity, re- 
solutely declined upon any consideration whatever offici- 
ating again in public. Upon this principle Mr. Lindsey 
thought proper to act ; and having, for reasons which 
he judged satisfactory, taken leave of his public charge, 
he took leave of it for ever, and could never be persuaded 
to ascend the pulpit again *. 

* Upon this subject Mr. Lindsey thus expresses himself, in a letter to a 
friend, dated June 13, 17^3 : " I ought not to keep secret any longer from 
you what' was known to one or two friends a year ago, and lately been sig- 
nified to the Trustees of the Chapel, that I intend very soon to resign my 
office of minister in it. On the first of July I enter into my seventieth year: 
and though I have cause of all thankfulness for the health and strength 
I enjoy, being able tolerably to go through the duty, yet I find infirmities 
coming, and have had some nervous spasms, paiticulaily in my head, 
that have long satisfied me that it is right to retire with a good grace. I 
have recommended my worthy colleague, and he will certainly be chosen to 
succeed me. But we shall continue to live on in our present situation. For 
the whole premises being purchased, and the chapel, &c. built by money 
collected by me from various friends, with not less than five hundred pouads 



268 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XII. 

The venerable subject of this Memoir, though neither 
his judgement nor his inclination led him to take a pro- 
minent part in the politics of the time, was nevertheless a 
warm advocate for civil and religious liberty, and his ge- 
nerous feelings and principles upon this most interesting 
of all subjects he scorned to disguise. He sympathized 
deeply with those political characters who, whatever in- 
discretions some of them might be chargeable with, suf- 
fered, from that which in Mr. Lindsey' s estimation was 
the overstrained rigour of the law both in Scotland and 
England, penalties far beyond the demerit of any crime 
which could be proved against them. Among these suf- 
ferers, the person on whose behalf Mr. Lindsey was in 
the highest degree interested, was the Reverend Thomas 
Fyshe Palmer, a gentleman descended from a respecta- 
ble and opulent family in Bedfordshire, who having been 
destined to take orders in the established church had 
been educated at the University of Cambridge., and was 
a Fellow of Queen's College. This gentleman, in con- 
sequence of perusing the writings of Dr. Priestley and 
Mr. Lindsey, became a decided Unitarian : and being a 
man of an ardent active spirit, he devoted himself to 
the propagation of those principles which to him appear- 
ed scriptural and evangelical. In the year 1792 he was 
preacher of the Unitarian doctrine in Scotland, where 
his official labours were chiefly employed in the town of 

of our own, and the accommodations, &c. being much owing to my wife's 
attention, skill, and daily superintendance, when I gave up the fee of the 
whole, which was vested in me, and made choice of the Trustees in the trust 
deed, which perpetuates the premises for the proper uses, they settled the 
house rent-free to my wife for her life." 

To the same purpose Mr. Lindsey writes to another friend, September 9, 
1/93 : <{ We shall still continue to reside in the house in Essex-street ; for 
the Trustees of the Chapel would not appoint a successor, but under the li- 
mitation of my enjoying the house, &c. for life, as was appointed in the 
original Trust deed for my wife if I had died the minister and she had sur- 
vived me. This was thought reasonable, as by collections from our friends, 
with no small sum of our own, we had purchased, built, and furnished the 
premises." 



CH. XII.] 



REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDEY. 



269 



Dundee, in which a considerable Society of Unitarian 
worshipers had been formed by the united exertions of 
himself, Messrs. Christie, Millar, and other respectable 
inhabitants. Mr. Fyshe Palmer was a man of excellent 
understanding, unimpeachable morals, and of great sim- 
plicity of character ; and being a zealous friend to liberty 
and upon all occasions ardent, he, perhaps inconside- 
rately, was concerned in the republication of an Address 
to the People of Scotland concerning the Reform of 
Parliament; for which, in the autumn of 1793, he was 
tried by the Circuit Court of Justiciary ; and being con- 
victed, a sentence of banishment was passed upon him, 
which was interpreted, and executed, as a sentence of 
transportation for seven years to Botany Bay. After this 
inhuman sentence Mr. Palmer experienced very rigorous 
treatment. He was confined for some weeks in the com- 
mon gaol of Perth ; from which, without any previous no- 
tice, he was hurried away at four o'clock in the morning 
in the month of November, and taken on board a cutter 
which brought him to London ; where he and Mr. Muir, a 
gentleman of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland, (who 
for a similar offence had been subjected to a still severer 
sentence,) were for some time lodged in Newgate, and 
were afterwards confined in the hulks at Woolwich, 
where they were treated by the governor with much hu- 
manity, and were allowed all the accommodations which 
their situation would admit # . They were permitted to 

* " Mr/Muir and Mr. Palmer," says Mr. Lindsey in a letter to Dr. Toul- 
min, dated December 14, 1/93, " are on board tbe hulks with the felons, 
and many of my friends have been to see them. I also hear from Mr. Pal- 
mer, and have sent him some book3. Neither of them, I believe, is in want 
of any thing, the place considered. But the situation is, upon the whole, 
horrible,, Mr. Palmer, however, is most cheerful in the midst of it, and Mr. 
Muir not otherwise." In another letter to the same friend, dated Januaiy 
10, 1794, Mr. Lindsey writes: " Since I last wrote, opinions have varied 
about the destiny of Mr. Palmer and Mr. Muir, as the Scotch judges have, 
upon revisal, adhered to the sentence pronounced upon them. Mr. Palmer's 
health and spirits are most cheerful : Mr. Muir far from well in health since 



2/0 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XIL 

see their friends. Here they were visited by Mr. Lind- 
sey and Dr. Priestley, and by many other virtuous friends 
of liberty and reform, who contributed by their sympa- 
thy to alleviate their sufferings* and who with others 
raised a very handsome subscription to provide neces- 
saries for their voyage, and requisites to their future estab- 
lishment when they had reached the place of their des- 
tination. The extreme inhumanity of the sentence passed 
upon these reformers, and the unparalleled severity of 
the penalty annexed by the barbarous law of North Bri- 
tain to an offence which, if proved to its utmost extent, 
was punishable in the South only by a few months im- 
prisonment, considered in connexion with the excellent 
characters of the defendants, who could not in reason be 
regarded as capable of intentionally involving the coun- 
try in confusion and anarchy, excited general indigna- 
tion and horror ; and that not only in England, but in 
foreign countries. 

" The trial of the Scottish advocate T. Muir," says a 
respectable writer in the Altona Journal* A.D. 1/94, 
" who, for various endeavours to effect a reform of the 
Parliament of his country, was condemned to be trans- 
ported to Botany Bay, must excite in the breast of every 
German an esteem for his native land. We here see a 
man sent to Botany Bay on account of an accusation to 

the cold weather set it : both of them supported by their integrity and fu- 
ture hopes. Some friends who visited the hulks on Wednesday had a com- 
mission from some others to offer a purse to Mr. Palmer and Mr* Muir. 
The former declined taking anything, but Mr. Muir thankfully accepted it." 
Mr. Palmer afterwards saw reason to alter his mind, and accepted the prof- 
fered kindness of his friends. In a subsequent letter Mr. Lindsey informs 
his friend, that the amount of the contribution was between five and six 
hundred pounds, and that it was vested in the hands of a Committee of seven 
for the benefit of Messrs. Palmer, Muir, Skirving, and even Margarot, 
" who, as a joint sufferer, was not to be overlooked, though his general 
character was not so high as the others." How true this observation of Mr. 
Lindsey's was, and how justly this person was entitled to participate in the 
bounty of Mr. Palmer's friends, those who were witnesses to his conduct to 
that gentleman on board the transport in the passage to South Wales could 
properly appretiate. 



CH. XII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



271 



which a German court of justice would have been asham* 
ed to listen." 

The legality of the sentence was called in question by 
many distinguished advocates at the Scotch bar; the 
punishment for leasing-making, i. e. libelling, being ex- 
pressed by the word banishment in the Scotch Statute, 
not transportation to another country* Upon this ground* 
when Parliament was assembled in the beginning of 
1794, various motions were introduced by an honourable 
member eminently learned in Scotch jurisprudence* 
William Adam, Esq. with a view to a revision of the 
Scottish law relating to sedition ; to an inquiry into the 
legality of the sentence ; and, finally* to the regulation 
of the justiciary courts of Scotland. These motions were 
overruled ; but from the interest which many persons of 
great weight and influence in the country appeared to 
take in the fate of the prisoners, the sufferers and their 
friends fondly flattered themselves with the hope that the 
punishment would be mitigated *. But the Adminis- 

* '* The sentence against Mr. Muir and Mr. Palmer," says Mr. Lindsey 
in his letter to Dr. Toulmin, dated February 20th, " is so unjust, that I can 
hardly persuade myself still that it will be executed, at least till their case 
has undergone the intended parliamentary discussion. My friends say this 
is hoping against hope. At present they are at Portsmouth, and it is said 
are to remain there a fortnight." In a letter dated March 8th, Mr. Lindsey 
writes : " I hear that Mr. Palmer was not quite so well at Portsmouth on 
board the ship, and that their fare and accommodations were not such as 
were expected. However, some of my friends still natter me with hope 
that Government will not take such a bold step as to send these men away 
whilst the legality of their sentence is questioned, and its discussion pending 
in the national legislature." These flattering hopes, however, proved abor- 
tive. And in a letter to the same friend, dated May 3, 1794, Mr. Lindsey 
states, that they had then actually set sail and taken leave of their native 
country, never,, alas ! to return again. " A letter from Mr. Scott this day 
mentions the vvhole fleet being at length out of sight yesterday morning with 
a very fair wind down the channel ; and whatever some intend, I trust a 
good Providence carries some to Botany Bay for most important purposes 
of human virtue and happiness." 

The correspondent from whom Mr. Lindsey received this intelligence was 
the Reverend Russell Scott of Portsmouth, a gentleman of most active be- 
nevolence, who was indefatigable in offices of kindness to these persecuted 
reformers while the ship which conveyed them remained at Spithead. " Mr, 
Scott cannot enough be commended," says Mr. Lindsey to Dr. Toulmin, 



272 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XII, 



tration of that day had determined upon ruling by a sy- 
stem of terror unprecedented since the accession of the 
House of Brunswick : and while the conduct of the 
Scottish courts of justice was under discussion in Par- 
liament, in the month of March 1794, these two upright 
and respectable sufferers, and others in the same predica- 
ment, were hurried on board the Surprize, a government 
transport, and dispatched to Botany Bay among a crowd 
of felons of various descriptions, who were for their crimes 
condemned to the same punishment *. The treatment 
of Mr. Fyshe Palmer on board this ship was so gross 
and inhuman, as to excite a suspicion that it was never 
intended that he should reach the place of their desti- 
nation alive ; nor would it have been possible for him to 
have survived the hardships he endured, had it not been 
for the humane attentions of James Ellis, a young person 
who, from affection and sympathy, volunteered his ser - 
vices to Mr. Palmer, and accompanied him to the colony 
as a free settler. Mr. Palmers own affecting narrative 
of the barbarous severities which he encountered on his 
passage, is contained in a letter to Mr. Lindsey imme- 
diately after his arrival in New South Wales, and is in- 
serted in the Appendix j% 

" for his exertions to serve those worthy martyrs, and to see them accom- 
modated with every thing needful." 

* " The case of men of education and reflection," says Dr. Priestley, 
" and who act from the best intentions with respect to the community, 
committing only what state policy requires to be considered as crimes," but 
which are allowed on all hands to imply no moral turpitude so as to render 
them unfit for heaven and happiness hereafter, is not to be confounded with 
that of common felons. There was nothing in the conduct of Lewis XIV. 
and his ministers that appeared so shocking, so contrary to all ideas of jus- 
tice, humanity, and decency, and that contributed more to render their me- 
mory execrated, than sending such men as Mr. Marolles, and other eminent 
Protestants who are now revered as saints and martyrs, to the galleys, along 
with the vilest miscreants. Compared with this, the punishment of death 
would be mercy. I trust that, in time, the Scots in general will think these 
measures a disgrace to their country." Dr. Priestley's Fast Serm. 1794„ 
Pref, p. xviii. Note. 

•f See Appendix, No. XI. In owler to justify the severities used to Mr. 
Palmer, and even the infliction of capital punishment if that had been re- 



CH. XII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. k 273 

This excellent man lived to complete the period as- 
signed by his sentence for his banishment in this dreary 
country, enduring many hardships, but highly respected 
by all who were themselves respectable in this motley 
community. When the term limited for his residence 
was expired, he and the faithful companion of his for- 
tunes, James Ellis, fitted out a small ship to convey them 
to England, meaning in their way to carry on some ad- 
vantageous traffic in the islands of the Southern ocean : 
but their little bark was not equal to the undertaking, 
and in a gale of wind it was wrecked upon the coast of 
Golarn, one of the Ladrone islands belonging to Spain, 
with which this country was then at war. The Spanish 
governor made prisoners of the ship's crew, and during 
his imprisonment Mr. Fyshe Palmer fell a victim to a 
fever. 

Mr. Lindsey interested himself very feelingly in behalf 
of many other respectable characters who at this period 
suffered by the harsh measures of Mr. Pitt's administra- 
tion. The Reverend William Winterbotham, minister 
of a Calvinistic congregation at Plymouth Dock, was ac- 
cused of uttering seditious language in two discourses 
which he delivered from the pulpit; and upon the slight- 
est evidence, such was the ferment of the times, he was 
found guilty, and sentenced to four years imprisonment 



sorted to, the most infamous calumnies were industriously circulated against 
that virtuous sufferer, viz that he was exciting the felons to seize the ship 
and to take it to America ; a report which, for a time, gained too easy 
credit, hut which, as it afterwards appeared, had not the least foundation in 
truth. <e Serious apprehensions," says Mr. Lindsey in a letter to Dr. TouU 
min, dated November 8, " are entertained by Mr. Palmer and Mr. Skir- 
ving's friends, I am concerned to mention it, that they have been engaged 
in some mutinous intention of rising and seizing the ship on their palling 
from the grand fleet and going off to America ; I wish there may be no truth 
in this report." In a succeeding letter dated December 15, Mr. Lindsey 
expresses his conviction that these worthy men were wrongfully accused, 
*' There is reason to believe there have been disturbances on board the 
Surprize, and that Messrs. Palmer and Skirving have been very injuriously 
accused, a5 principally concerned in fomenting of them.' 1 

T 



274 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[ch. xii. 



in Newgate. " I have not read Mr. Winterbotham's 
trial," says Mr. Lindsey in a letter to Dr. Toulmin dated 
February 8, 1794: "but lawyers, and others whom I 
have seen, declare that there never was a more iniquitous 
verdict." It reminded many of the conviction of Mr. 
Rosewell, a Presbyterian minister in the reign of Charles 
II., for treasonable words uttered in the pulpit, upon the 
evidence of two notorious prostitutes ; concerning which, 
a noble Lord who had attended the trial immediately re- 
ported to the King at the levee, that he had just seen one 
of his majesty's subjects, a mari of learning and piety, 
convicted of high treason upon evidence on which he 
would not hang a dog. And when Jefferies came in soon 
afterwards and bragged to the King of the feat which he 
had performed in inducing the jury to convict Rosewell, 
the King ordered him to arrest the judgement, and the 
prisoner was soon afterwards set at liberty. It was hoped 
by the friends of liberty and justice, that a sentence so 
glaringly outraging every feeling of equity and humanity, 
as that passed upon Mr. Winterbotham, would not have 
been carried into execution. But Administration were 
inexorable; not a single day of confinement was remitted; 
and the innocent sufferer was compelled to drink the cup 
of bitterness to the very dregs. During his confinement 
lie was visited occasionally by Mr. Lindsey, who, by his 
kind sympathy and by his own great liberality, and his 
influence with his good and generous friends, and parti- 
cularly the excellent Mrs. Rayner, contributed very ma- 
terially to the mitigation of Mr. WinterbothanVs suffer- 
ings*. 

* The following extract from a letter of Mr. Winterbotham's, dated Ply- 
mouth, August 31, 1802, will show the grateful sense which that gentleman 
entertained of the kindness of Mr. Lindsey and his other benefactors : 

" Reverend and dear sir— Although I am far separated from you, and pos- 
sess but few opportunities of intercourse with you, yet ray heart ever don- 
templates you with affection and gratitude : nor, indeed, can it be otherwise • 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 275 



CHAPTER XIII. 

DR. PRIESTLEY EMIGRATES TO AMERICA. HIS REASONS 
FOR THIS MEASURE. MR. LINDSEY's JUDGEMENT IN 
THE CASE. DR. PRIESTLEY'S FAREWELL SERMON AT 
HACKNEY. LETTERS TO MR. LINDSEY FROM GRAVES- 
END, DEAL, AND FALMOUTH. ARRIVES AT NEW YORK. 
HIS RECEPTION IN AMERICA. 

The time was now arrived in which the venerable sub- 
ject of this Memoir was destined to experience the se- 
verest privation which had ever yet fallen to his lot, by the 
emigration of the approved friend of his heart, his fellow- 
labourer and fellow-sufferer in the cause of divine truth, 
Dr. Priestley, to America. This memorable event took 
place in the spring of 1794. In the preface to his Fast 

for while I feel myself surrounded with comforts I cannot, I trust, ever for- 
get the man to whose kindness so many of them are owing. Indeed, my dear 
sir, your name, and that of dear Mrs. Rayner, borne by my two eldest hoys, 
has added pleasure even to the sensations they naturally inspire, and a pa- 
rent's heart has dared to indulge the hope that they may one day imitate the 
virtues of those after whom they have been called. 

'* Permit me here to thank you also for the present of your last publica- 
tion. I have perused it with pleasure and profit, although every sentiment 
therein may not accord with my own. And I feel thankful to the Father of 
mercy, who thus kindly continues to you thefaeulties of the mind so entire, 
while your advanced period of life forbids the more active labours of the 
house of God. 

'* Whatever differences of opinion may exist between us on religious sub- 
jects, I hope and trust that I shall be enabled to imitate that sincerity of soul 
of which you have given me and the world so bright an example. My heart, 
I can truly say, is alive to the duties and the importance of Christianity, and 
I trust that I am not altogether a stranger to its pleasures. I continue my 
public labours, and my aim amidst my little flock has been to cultivate that 
mind that was in Christ Jesus, and to promote those dispositions which ren- 
der obedience to the divine will delightful. I do not labour in vain, although 
my success is not adequate to my wishes. 

" I trust I shall yet have an opportunity of seeing you in the flesh : but if 
this favour is denied, I will cherish and indulge the pleasing hope of meeting 
you in the world of spirits, and enjoying your friendship in a state of immor- 
tality through the ages of an eternal world." 

It is to be remembered, that Mr. Winterbotham is a minister of the Cal- 
yinistic persuasion. The letter does great credit to the head and to the heart 
of the writer ; it shows that the spirit of Christianity is not limited to any 
sect or party of Christians. 

T 2 



2/6 



MJLMOIfvs OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIII/ 



Sermon preached in February that year, Dr. Priestley 
states the reasons which induced him to leave his coun- 
try : the principal of which were, the removal of his sons, 
the transfer of the greater part of his property to Ame- 
rica, and the apprehended insecurity of his own person in 
consequence of the rancorous spirit of the times, and the 
violent measures of the Administration. Dr. Priestley 
naturally enough concluded, that the same bitter and ty- 
rannical spirit which dictated, or enforced, the cruel and 
unjust sentences upon Muir, Palmer, and Winterbotham, 
and especially the latter, who was convicted, upon evi- 
dence the most suspicious, of an offence of which no rea- 
sonable person could believe him guilty, and condemned 
to four years confinement in Newgate, might, upon a 
similar pretext, which could never be wanting if it was 
sought for, deprive him of his liberty, or expose him to 
political persecution. It is not indeed probable that the 
government of the country, who knew his innocence, ever 
meaned to disgrace itself by the direct prosecution of the 
most enlightened and most virtuous of its philosophers. 
It was sufficient for them, that a hireling crew had raised 
against him a popular hue and cry; and it cannot be 
doubted that the men then in power would have been 
better pleased, if, after having been burned out of his 
house by a hired mob of ruffians at Birmingham, he had 
fled the kingdom instead of finding an honourable asylum 
at Hackney. Warned, however, by the terrible example 
of 1730, and even by that of the late riots at Birmingham, 
there is no reason to believe that they would have encou- 
raged a mob in the vicinity of the metropolis to have 
pulled down Dr. Priestley's house a second time. And 
in fact, though the venerable sufferer met with a few per- 
sonal insults at his first settlement at Clapton from some 
of the lowest of the rabble, that spirit had entirely sub- 
sided i and liiid he chosen to have remained at Hackney, 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 277 

it cannot be doubted that he would have lived in equal 
security and tranquillity with the rest of his fellow-citi- 
zens ; admired, beloved, and revered, by a numerous, re- 
spectable, and continually increasing circle of hearers, 
pupils and friends. But the high spirit of Dr. Priestley 
could not brook to hold his liberty and security upon what 
appeared to him to be so precarious a tenure ; and he 
therefore resolved to seek an asylum in a country where, 
if civilization has not attained to so high a polish as in 
older countries, thoughts and words and consciences are 
free ; and no restraint is laid upon freedom of inquiry, la- 
titude of disquisition, or openness of profession upon the 
most important subjects of religion or politics. It was 
*iot, however, without much regret that this much-injured 
man bid adieu to his native country, nor without indul- 
ging the fond hope that he might eventually return and 
end his days in peace in the land which gave him birth. 
But the circumstance which most touched his feelings 
was the loss of the society of his old, tried and beloved 
friend, Mr. Lindsey, P in whose absence, ,? says he, " I 
shall for some time at least find all the world a blank* " 



* The concluding paragraph of this interesting preface is so truly cha- 
racteristic of Dr. Priestley's amiable, affectionate, and ingenuous mind, that 
1 trust I shall be excused for inserting it here. 

" The sentence of Mr. Winterbotham for delivering from the pulpit what 
I am persuaded he never did deliver, and which similar evidence might have 
drawn upon myself, or any other dissenting minister who was an object of 
general dislike, has something in it still more alarming. But I tru3t that 
conscious innocence would support me, a9 it does him, under whatever pre- 
judiced or violent men might do to me, as well as say of me. But I see no> 
occasion to expose myself to danger without any prospect of doing good, or 
to continue any longer in a country in which I am so unjustly become the 
object of general dislike, and not retire to another where I have reason to 
think I shall be better received. And I trust that the same good providence 
which has attended me hitherto and made me happy in my present situation,, 
and all my former ones, will attend and bless me in what may still lie before 
me. In all ei'ents the will of God be done ! 

" T cannot refrain from repeating again, that I leave rny native country 
with real regret, never expecting to find any where else society so suited ro 
my ^disposition and habits ; such friends as I have here, whose attachment 
has been more than a balance to all the abuse I have met with from others.; 



278 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIII. 



But though many of Dr. Priestley's friends, those es- 
pecially who resided in the vicinity of Hackney, and who 
were naturally most anxious to retain him in the coun- 
try, allowed perhaps too little weight to the arguments 
for emigration ; there were others, possibly, equally well- 
informed, and certainly not less interested in the result 
of his deliberation, who thought him fully justified in the 
resolution which he adopted of abandoning, at least for 
the present, a country which no longer knew how to ap- 
preciate his transcendent merits, and in which his pro- 
perty, and even his person, was believed to be no longer 
safe. In the number of these was the venerable subject 
of this Memoir, to whom the emigration of Dr. Priestley 
must have been a most afflicting event. He thus ex* 
presses himself upon the subject in a letter to Dr. Toul* 
min, dated January 10, 1794, before Dr. Priestley had 
made up his mind to leave the country: 

" We have seen Dr. Priestley very frequently of late, 
as also Mrs. Priestley, and they are both very well. If 
his sons do well in America, I have no doubt of his fol- 
lowing them, but do not apprehend that he will remove 
thither at any time but upon some opening or prospect 
of being provided for, so as to be useful in his own way 
as a teacher of philosophy. He is now preaching at Hack- 



and especially to replace one particular christian friend, in whose absence I 
shall, for some time at least, find all the world a blank. Still less can I ex- 
pect to resume my favourite pursuits with any thing like the advantages I 
enjoy here. In leaving this country I also abandon a source of maintenance 
■which I can but ill bear to lose. I can however truly say, that I leave it 
without any resentment or ill-will. On the contrary, I sincerely wish my 
countrymen all happiness ; and when the time for reflection, which my ab- 
sence may accelerate, shall come, my countrymen I am confident will do me 
more justice. They will be convinced that every suspicion which they have 
been led- to entertain to my disadvantage has been ill-founded, and that I 
have even some claims to their gratitude and esteem. In this case I shall 
look with satisfaction to the time when, if my life be prolonged, I may visit 
my friends in this country ; and perhaps I may, notwithstanding my removal 
for the present, find a grave, as I believe is naturally the wish of every man, 
in the land that gave me birth." 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 279 



ney a Course of Lectures on the Evidences of the Mosaic 
and Christian Revelations, which he intends afterwards 
to print; and which, from what I have seen of the former, 
will be most useful and highly seasonable at a period when 
many in tlu's country, and the greater part upon the con- 
tinent, count all revealed religion as a fable, which might 
be well intended at first, but has proved most destructive 
to the morals and happiness of mankind." 

In his next letter to the same friend, dated February 8, 
1794, he thus communicates the intelligence of Dr. 
Priestley's final resolution : " I return your son's two let- 
ters, which I like much, as every thing which comes from 
him*. They show a good mind, sensible, active, and 
ever attentive to the proper business of his journeyings. 
At Dr. Priestley's request I let him take them home with 
him a day or two since to show to Mrs. Priestley, as they 
are every day more and more interested in what relates 
to America ; and I now believe, in the course of not 
many months, will both of them remove thither. This 



* The Reverend Henry Toulmin, who was settled witli a large and re- 
spectable congregation in Lancashire. This gentleman, when a violent spirit, 
not discountenanced by the Administration of the day, broke out against the 
dissenters, and particularly the rational dissenters, soon after the riots at 
Birmingham, emigrated with his family to America ; and after some time 
settled at Kentucky, where he was appointed to the high office of Secretary 
of State, with a salary of about eighty pounds a year ; but this being thought 
too extravagant, it was reduced to fifty. The Governor of the State was Mr. 
Toulmin's friend. He had been a Baptist Minister, and a Colonel in the 
army. His revenues were in proportion to those of the Secretary. The fact 
is, that he was a man of a liberal and enlightened mind ; and while he con- 
tinued at the head of the government, he and his Secretary introduced many 
wise and salutary regulations, and contributed to the utmost of their power 
to establish order and tranquillity in a state of society which was but few de- 
grees removed from a state of nature and bai'barism. But their patriotic 
administration was not permitted to continue long. After a few years, in con- 
sequence of one of those political revolutions to which empires are liable, 
another party gained the ascendancy, — the administration was changed, and 
the Governor and Secretary retired to private stations. The President of 
the United States, however, Mr. Jefferson, to whom the abilities and merits 
of Mr. Toulmin were well known, soon afterwards appointed him to the office 
of Judge in a district of the United States upon the river Mobille, which, he 
now fills with great reputation to himself and advantage to the community. 



280 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. XIH. 

full decision I have come to the knowledge of since I last 
wrote, though I have for some time suspected it. It will 
cut off a great source of the highest satisfaction to me 
amongst many others. But I hope it will be for his 
greater good and contentment upon the whole, as his fa- 
mily have gone before him ; and I have for some time 
thought that his chief business was done here and we were 
no longer worthy of him, and that he may be of eminent 
service to that other country, retaining still in great vi- 
gour his powers of body and mind ; and there can be no 
doubt of the intimate friend of Franklins being there well 
received." 

In this manly way does Mr. Lindsey express his appro- 
bation of his friend's emigration, though mixed with deep 
regret. In the following extract of a letter to Dr. Toul- 
min, dated February 20, it appears that other intimate 
and judicious friends of Dr. Priestley entertained similar 
sentiments : " The Doctor has received letters which are 
very encouraging. The family of V— here, who have 
two sons (that were both the Doctor's pupils) in America, 
one well settled in Philadelphia, the other in Kennebec, 
but who is part of the year at Boston, all advise and rather 
press him to go, though greatly grieved to lose him hence. 
As to the Doctor, his purpose is certainly fixed to leave 
England towards April, and he is making preparations 
for the purpose." 

In a letter to the same correspondent, dated March 8, 
Mr. Lindsey states : " You will be pleased to know that 
our friend, though, we cannot think of losing him without 
deep concern, has taken places for himself, Mrs. Priest- 
ley, and two servants, in the Sansom, which is to be ready 
to sail the latter end of this or the very beginning of next 
month. Happily the other persons, all of them emi- 
grants, who are going in the same ship, are known to him 
ox his friends;," 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 281 

On the 21st of February, 1794, Dr. Priestley sent in 
Ms letter of resignation to the congregation at Hackney ; 
lo which after some time, when they found all efforts to 
Induce him to remain with them unavailing and hopeless, 
they returned an answer expressive of their veneration and 
gratitude for his person and his labours, their poignant re- 
gret at the dissolution of the connexion, and their affec- 
tionate good wishes for his future welfare. On the 30th 
of March he delivered to a crowded auditory a farewell 
discourse, from Acts xx. 32. The subject of it was the 
(i Use of Christianity, especially in difficult times." it 
begins with stating (t the great design of the gospel to 
raise the sons of men to the high character and honour 
of sons of God, and make them heirs of a happy immor- 
tality ;"— it represents " the situation of dissenters, and 
especially of Unitarian dissenters at that time, as calling 
in a particular manner for the exercise of christian prin- 
ciples : and that the insult and outrage to which they 
were then exposed, though not to be desired, was most fa- 
vourable to the cultivation of that temper of mind which 
is most eminently christian, to the virtues of patience, 
fortitude, forgiveness, and heavenly-mindedness." The 
preacher then shows how much superior these virtues are 
to that courage and zeal which is so generally applauded in 
heroes and martyrs, and of how much more difficult at- 
tainment; and in the true spirit of christian philosophy 
he remarks, that "we shall be the less disturbed at the ma- 
lignity of others, when we consider that our enemies, as 
well as our friends, are acting the part assigned them by 
the Supreme Ruler of the Universe: that they are in theii 
proper place as well as we in ours ; though, being insti- 
gated by their own bad dispositions, this is no apology 
for their conduct ; and that the plan of the great dmma 
in which we are all actors is so arranged, that good will 
•finally result from the evil which we experience in our- 



282 MEMOIRS- OF THE LATE [CH. XIII. 

selves or see in others." He adds, that " all the oppo- 
sition we meet with makes part of the useful and neces- 
sary discipline of life, and no great character could be 
formed, or any great good be done, without it ; — our Sa- 
viour, the apostles, the reformers from popery, the Puri- 
tans, and Nonconformists, were equally exposed to it. 
And shall we complain ? — We must not forget that it is 
only by discipline, and often very severe discipline too, 
that great and excellent characters are ever formed ; and 
there is a source of satisfaction even in adversity, or nearly 
connected with it, that persons in prosperity and affluence 
have no idea of." 

In proof of this observation he cites his own example : 
$< Of this I am myself not without some experience. My 
violent expulsion from a favourite situation at Birming- 
ham was to appearance sufficiently disastrous, and I was 
not without feeling it to be so. Yet I have had more 
than a recompense, internal and external, so as to make 
me consider it even now as no evil upon the whole : and 
I am far from wishing, if it were possible, that it might 
not have happened." The preacher then proceeds to 
show, " that a state of suffering is a state of usefulness ; 
no less than one of most active exertion."' — Also, that 
" such a state of persecution as that to which we are ex- 
posed, will tend to purge our Societies of lukewarm and 
unworthy members ; of men who prefer the world and 
the things of it, to the cause of truth and a good con- 
science ; and such are many of the richer sort among us, 
and in all societies ; men who, by associating with other 
rich and worldly-minded men, and especially those who 
are within the influence of a court and the honours and 
emoluments derived from it, catch too much of their spi- 
rit, become assimilated to their manners, and adopt their 
views. Let all such go to their proper place ; — we want 
them not; — we, want not even their wealth. Truechris* 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 283 

tianity does not suppose nor require it. But in all cases 
of persecution, some of the most wealthy have proved the 
most zealous." It is further remarked, that u true chris- 
tians, devoid of superstition, will meet for public worship 
and edify one another, even without the aid or expense 
of regular ministers ; — in situations in which ministers 
cannot be had, christian laymen will, I hope, have the 
good sense to do themselves every thing w r hich has been 
usually done by their ministers : and this excellent lesson 
will be taught more effectually in a season of adversity 
than of prosperity." — " It is our pride that, as Unitarians, 
our religion has been so far from being befriended, that 
it has in all ages been frowned upon by the civil magi- 
strate : and yet in these seemingly unfavourable circum - 
stances it has constantly gained ground." As an evidence 
of their having imbibed the true spirit of Christianity, the 
preacher recommends that his hearers should <£ exert 
themselves in their several spheres to extend the know- 
ledge of it to others, and not to imagine that this is 
the business of ministers only. Gladly," continues he, 
" would unbelievers have it to say, that all men of sense 
are with them. On the contrary, I am confident that 
-men of real knowledge and reflection, as well as men of 
virtue and integrity ; men who have given the most se- 
rious attention to the subject, and men of the most up- 
right and unbiassed minds, are with us. But to recom- 
mend Christianity to men of reason and reflection, it must 
be made to appear a rational thing. Men cannot embrace 
as sacred truths any thing at which their common sense 
revolts." Hence he infers that it is our duty, " if we have 
any real value for Christianity, to exert ourselves to free it 
from those great incumbrances which have already done 
it the greatest injury, and have endangered its very ex- 
istence." He congratulates the congregation upon its 
honourable denomination of an Unitarian Society, and au- 



284 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. XIII. 

gurs the happiest effects from the public avowal of their 
christian principles. " The opinions/ 5 says he, " of single 
persons are often overlooked or disregarded, but a chri- 
stian church is a city set on a hill that cannot be hid." 

And the congregation having, chiefly upon his recom- 
mendation, chosen as his successor the writer of this 
Memoir, the preacher is pleased to say, " I cannot con- 
clude this discourse without expressing my satisfaction in 
your choice of my successor and after expressing, in 
language which it does not become the writer to repeat, 
his persuasion that this successor would carry on plans 
of instruction, public and private, on the same principles 
with himself, he adds, " by making choice of such a per- 
son, you have greatly lessened the pain that I shall feel 
from our separation. It will appear to me that I am still 
with you in his person. May the connexion be long and 
happy !" 

Having thus finished what he had to say to his regular 
audience, he closes his discourse with addressing a few 
hints of advice to the numerous strangers which thronged 
to hear him upon this interesting occasion. The intro- 
duction to this address is most judicious and conciliatory. 
" Most of you, I presume, are come hither from an in- 
nocent curiosity to see and hear a person of whom you 
have heard much evil, and perhaps some good, and whom 
you do not expect to see or hear any more. Others, 
though I hope not many, may have come for some less 
innocent purpose. These, let them have come whenever 
they pleased, must have found themselves disappointed, 
and I hope agreeably so ; as instead of finding any occa- 
sion of harm to me they may have found some good to 
themselves. Nothing else can they have heard here ; no- 
thing but what is calculated to confirm the faith of all chris- 
tians, and to inculcate those sentiments of the heart, and 
that conduct in life, which are the proper fruits of that 



CH. XTH.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 280 

faith." The preacher having said a few words to justify his 
doctrine, though deemed heretical, defends it briefly from 
the charge of sedition . " Nothing," says he, <€ that can by 
any construction be supposed to have that tendency has 
ever been delivered from this pulpit, unless it be sedition 
to teach what the apostles taught before, viz. that we are 
to obey God rather than man ; and that in what relates 
to religion and conscience, we disclaim all human autho- 
rity, even that of king, lords, and commons. In these 
things we acknowledge only One Father, even God, and 
one master, even Christ, the messenger or ambassador of 
God. If any doctrine be really false, being contrary to 
reason and the Scriptures, it is not an act of parliament 
that can make it true. Or, if any action be morally 
wrong, as being contrary to natural justice and equity, it 
is not an act of parliament that can make it be right. But 
while we thus € render to God the things that are God's,' 
we render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, We are 
subject to every civil ' ordinance of man for the Lord's 
sake,' though not their ordinances relating to religion. 
Learn then not to give ear to mere calumny. As to us, 
I trust that we have learned of Christ to bless them tiiat 
curse us, and to pray for them that despitefully use and 
persecute us." 

The peroration is beautiful and appropriate, and strong- 
ly indicates the truly christian spirit of the venerable fu- 
gitive. i( Whether then you come as friends or as ene- 
mies, whether we shall ever see one another's faces a^ain 
or not, may God, whose providence is over all, bless, 
preserve, and keep us ! Above all, may we be preserved 
in the paths of virtue and piety, that we may have a hap- 
py meeting in that world, where error and prejudice will 
be no more, where all the ground of the party distinction? 
which subsist here will be taken away; where every mis- 



286 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIII. 



understanding will be cleared up, and the reign of truth 
and of virtue will be for ever established !" 

Such was the posture of mind, such the dignity of spi- 
rit, of this first of philosophers and of christians, when 
taking leave of a country whose reputation he had ex- 
tended, and to whose intellectual and moral improve- 
ment he had devoted his superior energies ; but which, 
too little sensible of his pre-eminent worth, treated him 
with neglect, and refused redress to his cruel and unme- 
rited injuries ; and, if she did not absolutely banish from 
her shores the worthiest of her sons, she at least appeared 
to withhold from him that protection which he thought 
essential to his security, and to the peaceable and success- 
ful pursuit of his professional duties and his philosophical 
inquiries. But the spirit of Christianity carried him 
through all ; and Dr. Priestley in the possession of a good 
conscience, and in the exercise of the mild, forbearing, 
forgiving spirit of the Gospel, was more truly happy in 
his mind, and more enviable in his exile, than the most 
violent of his enemies and persecutors on their couches 
of preferment, or their thrones of state*. 

The following Sunday, April 6, Dr. Priestley passed 

* After Dr. Priestley had given notice of his intention to leave the coun- 
try, the writer of this Memoir had frequent opportunities of accompanying 
him in his walks to visit and to take leave of his friends. The conversation 
upon these occasions usually turned upon some interesting subjects. Upon 
one occasion the topic of discussion was the second advent of Christ : and 
Dr. Priestley, who had studied the Apocalypse with great attention, inferred, 
from the state of the world, compared with the language of prophecy, that 
the second personal appearance of Clmst was very near at hand. "You," 
says he, " may probably live to see it ; I shall not. It cannot, I think, be 
more than twenty years." Of these twenty years, eighteen are now (1812) 
elapsed, and the signs of Christ's appearance are not more perceptible now 
than they were twenty years ago ; and he must be a sturdy believer who now 
expects the visible appearance of Christ to restore the Jews to their country, 
and to assume the government of the world within two years. Mr. Evanson, 
who did not in all points coincide with Dr. Priestley, agreed with him in ex- 
pecting the early personal appearance and reign of Christ. But his inter- 
pretation, with greater prudence, postponed the event for sixty years. I have 
not however heard that either of these gentlemen was quite so unreasonable 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 287 



with his friends in Essex-street, whose faces he was never 
more to behold again in this world. Dr. Toulmin that day 
preached for Dr. Disney a judicious, seasonable, and af- 
fecting discourse, which made a very deep impression 
upon a respectable and numerous audience. The next 
day Dr. Priestley and his family went to Gravesend, from 
which place he addressed the following short letter to his 
venerable friend : 

" Dear friend, — We were rather unexpectedly sum- 
moned by the captain to be with him here at two in the 
afternoon yesterday ; and here we met him and all the 
company, expecting to sail that evening. However, we 
are now actually about to take a boat and go to the ship, 
which lies at the Hope, about six miles below this place. 
We spent an agreeable evening, all things considered ; 
Mr. Russell and Mr. Vaughan being of the party. The 
morning is fine, but the wind still west. When we get 
to the Downs it is to be determined whether we go north 
round Scotland or through the Channel. The Pigou 
sails at the same time ; and we hope to keep company. 

" Poor Sally (Mrs. Finch, his only daughter) is most 
affected, as Mr. F. seems more determined than ever not 
to follow us ; but she hopes that circumstances may arise 

and inconsistent as the celebrated W. Whiston, who having foretold that the 
world would come to an end in twenty years, asked thirty years purchase for 
a small estate which he had to sell. I mention these facts to show how grie- 
vously the most enlightened minds may err when they attempt to apply the 
language of prophecy to passing events, and to become prophets themselves, 
instead of waiting till time unfolds the mysterious volume of divine dispen- 
sations, and points out the true sense of the prophetic vision. Joseph Mede 
himself is a memorable instance of the egregious mistakes into which learned 
and inquisitive men are liable to fall upon this subject ; who, having sup- 
plied the best key to the mysteries of the Apocalypse, and given the most 
rational solution of the symbols which are supposed to refer to events which 
had long been past, interprets two of the symbols as relating to the defeat 
of the Spanish armada, and to the wars in Germany against the House of 
Austria ; events which, however important to the British nation, make little 
figure in the history of the world, and are far beneath the dignity of prophe- 
tic notice. 



288 MEMOIRS OF THE LAfE [CH. Xllt. 

which will change his resolution. However, that resolu- 
tion will be guided by a will wiser than his or ours ; and 
this is my greatest consolation, especially in parting with 
you and Mrs. Lindsey. 

" Trusting to Mr. J. who said he would take my ther- 
mometer to Gravesend himself, I shall be obliged to go 
without it. I wish however you would see him, and de- 
sire him to send it by Johnson's package, if it will bear 
that conveyance. Take also any number you please of 
any of my publications, and dispose of them as you think 
proper. 

" I will write again from Deal, where the pilot leaves 
us. Yours and Mrs. Lindsey's most affectionately, 

Gravesend, April 8, 1794. " J. PRIESTLEY." 

The next day, April 9, Dr. Priestley wrote to Mr. 
Lindsey, as he promised, from Deal. 

s< Dear friend, — This I hope will be the last time I 
shall write to you from Old England. Yesterday we had a 
fair wind to carry us off Margate. We lay to, the greatest 
part of the night, when a fair wind sprung up to carry 
us, they say, within an hour of Deal, by half-past eight, 
which it now is. Most of the passengers yesterday were 
ill ; my wife most of the day ; and I did not wholly 
escape, though I am better than most of them. To-day 
we seem to be all pretty well, just ready for breakfast. 

" The cabin passengers are only nine, and promise to 
be 'sufficiently agreeable, though almost all unknown to 
each other. I have barely learned their names. 

" Mr. Lyon, who had but little time to speak to Mr. 
IJussell on the subject of our purchase of land, desires to 
have one share with us, if the subscription be not 'full. 
He will be a valuable associate, on account of his being 
an excellent farmer. 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



289 



" Our captain has just informed us, that if he falls in 
with the fleet of merchantmen at Portsmouth he will join 
them for the sake of the convoy : if so, I will write from 
that place. 

<c With my best wishes and prayers for our reunion 
here, or hereafter, yours and Mrs. Lindsey's, in which 
my wife joins me, most affectionately, 

" J. Priestley." 

The next letter is dated off Falmouth, on Friday even- 
ing, April 11. 

"Dear friend,-— We came in a very short time oppo- 
site to the Start, but then, which was last night, the wind 
changed, and turned west; so that on this account, and 
likewise apprehending a storm from that quarter, we have 
just dropped anchor in Falmouth Road, where we shall 
stay till to-morrow morning, and then sail or not accord- 
ing as the wind shall be. 

" On Wednesday evening we had a strong gale, which 
continued all night and part of the next day. This made 
all the passengers very sick, and my wife and myself 
among them. I could eat nothing till supper. But the 
next night was calm, and we rose recruited, and all this 
day have been in very good spirits, but much disappointed 
at not being able to proceed on our voyage, when we had 
got further in three days than the captain says he got in 
three weeks and five days the last voyage. We begin to 
be acquainted with all our cabin, and many of the steer- 
age passengers, and like them very well. They are all 
well-behaved, and good company. The only woman cabin 
passenger is come from France ; knows our friends there, 
and seems well acquainted with the politics of the coun- 
ty- 

" On the whole, I think we shall pass our time pretty 

u 



290 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



|CH. XIII. 



well during the voyage. I have much time for reading, 
and shall be able to write. I am meditating a discourse 
on the causes of infidelity, led to it by reflections on that 
of Mr. C. and other intelligent men. 

" I think I shall nearly read my Greek Testament 
through before I get to New York; and I think I read it 
with more satisfaction than ever. Unbelievers, I am con- 
fident, do not read it except with a predisposition to ca- 
vil. A person waits for our letters, and therefore I am 
in haste yours and Mrs. Lindsey's most affectionately, 

(i J. Priestley." 

Here we see what was uppermost in the mind of this 
truly apostolic man. An exile from his country, to which 
he was never more to return, writing in confidence to his 
most intimate friend, whose face he was never to see 
again, instead of giving vent to his feelings in effeminate 
and unavailing lamentations, he thinks of nothing but 
how he may best fortify his own mind, and confirm the 
minds of others in the grounds and principles of the 
Christian faith as the only solid foundation of virtue and 
peace. Nothing further was heard of Dr. Priestley till 
his arrival at New York. The following is the first let- 
ter addressed to his venerable friend from the shores of the 
western continent. Its contents are too interesting to 
require an apology for its length. 

"New York, June 6, 1794. 

" Dear friend, — I hope you received the letters I wrote 
from Gravesend, Deal, and Falmouth. I now write from 
New York, where we are safely arrived, after a passage 
of eight weeks and a day, owing to our having had none 
but westerly winds after we got clear of the Channel till 
the last fortnight. We also found the coast covered with 
a thick fog, very unusual at this time of the year, so that 
we were three days before we could get into the bay after 
we reached the coast. 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS UNDSEY. 

" We had an excellent ship ; but the captain was not 
the man he had been represented to me* He swore much, 
and was given to liquor ; and the crew very disorderly* 
However, he made a point of behaving in his best man- 
ner to us ; and is naturally very generous and good-na- 
tured. Unfortunately the mate and he did not agree ; 
and no care had been taken of the water-casks, so that 
the steerage passengers suffered much in consequence of 
it ; and we had many complaints i and if the voyage had 
been much longer, the consequence might have been se- 
rious. 

"Our society in the cabin was agreeable enough, though 
the majority were aristocratically inclined ; but all in the 
steerage were zealous republicans, and persons of good 
character, and several of good property. In the steerage 
also was more religion than in the cabin ; but they were 
universally Calvinists, though the majority very mode- 
rate, as you will suppose, from their applying to me to 
perform divine service to them ; which I did with much 
satisfaction when the weather and other circumstances 
would permit, several in the cabin joining us, though 
some of them were unbelievers — -but for want of infor* 
mation. This is the case with Mr. L>, a most excellent 
man, who is now reading my sermons on the evidences 
of revelation, — and I hope to good purpose. He, like 
thousands of others, told me, that he was so much dis- 
gusted with the doctrines of the church of England, es- 
pecially the Trinity, that he considered the whole busi- 
ness as an imposition, without further inquiry. 

" The confinement in the ship would not have beert 
disagreeable if I could have written with convenience* 
But I could do little more than read. I read the whole 
of the Greek Testament, and the Hebrew Bible as far as 
the first book of Samuel, and I think with more satisfac- 
tion than ever. I also read through Hartley's second vo- 
ir 2 



292 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIII. 



lume; and for amusement I had several books of voy- 
ages, and Ovid's Metamorphoses, which I read through, 
I always admired his Latin versification. If I had a Vir- 
gil, I should have read him through too. I read a great 
deal of Buchanan's Poems, and some of Petrarch's and 
Erasmus's Dialogues. All Peter Pindar's poems, which 
Mr. L. had with him, and which pleased me much more 
than I expected. He is Paine in verse. 

" Though it was particularly inconvenient to write long 
hand, I composed about as much as will make two ser- 
mons, on the causes of infidelity, which will make a pro- 
per addition to the volume of my discourses. If I do not 
print them here I will send you a copy. Now that I have 
access to the first volume of Hartley, in the fine edition 
Mrs. Lindsey gave me, I think I can improve what I 
wrote. The second volume I had in the ship was an odd 
volume of the set that was destroyed in the riots. 

"We had many things to amuse us in the passage, as 
the sight of some fine mountains of ice, water-spouts, 
which are very uncommon in those seas, flying fishes, 
porpoises, whales, and sharks, of which we caught one^ 
luminous sea-water, &c. I also amused myself with try- 
ing the heat of the water at different depths, and made 
other observations which suggest various experiments^ 
which I shall prosecute whenever I get my apparatus at 
liberty. 

" We had some very stormy weather ; and one gust of 
wind as sudden and violent as perhaps ever was known. 
If it had not been for the passengers, many of the sails 
had been lost. 

" I had not much sea-sickness ; but owing to our 
wretched cookery had no appetite for any thing till within 
a fortnight or three weeks of our landing; but then I was 
perfectly reconciled to every thing. My wife was really 
very ill a great part of the time ; but at last grew very 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND TIIEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 293 



well, and looks better almost than ever. On the whole 
the voyage has done us no harm, but good. 

" J — and his wife had been waiting for us some time. 
They and their brothers are well ; which is a great satis- 
faction to us. We shall probably go with them to Phi- 
ladelphia before we go any where else, as I hear there are 
proposals to be made to me about establishing a new col- 
lege in some part of Pennsylvania, about which you shall 
know more when I know more. 

"I never saw any place that I liked so well as New 
York ; it far exceeds my expectation, and my reception 
as too flattering ; no form of respect being omitted. I 
have received two formal addresses, to which I have given 
answers. More, I hear, are coming, and almost every 
person of the least consequence in the place has been or 
is coming to call upon me. This is rather troublesome, 
but it shows the difference of the two countries. I am 
lodged in the house which was the head-quarters of Ge- 
nerals Howe and Clinton, in view of the Bay, which is the 
finest prospect that I remember ever to have seen. 

" This must be a glorious country; and I doubt not of 
finding a peaceable and useful establishment in it. When 
that is accomplished, my only wish will be to have you 
and a few other christian friends to come and end their 
days with us. But we must not promise ourselves too 
much in this world. 

(i Say for me every thing that a grateful heart can dic- 
tate, both from myself, my wife, and my son, to Mrs ? 
Rayner. 

"Yours and Mrs. Lindsey's most affectionately, 

"J. Priestley.' 3 

Dr. Priestley made but a short stay at New York*, 



* It will not perhaps be uninteresting to read the account of Dr. Priestley s 
reception at New York, by a gentleman who was present at the time, and 



294 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CM. XIII. 



where, notwithstanding all the respect shown him by the 
laity, there was not one clergyman who offered him his 
pulpit, and some thought it their duty to caution their 
hearers against Unitarian errors. Many persons were, 

who soon afterwards returned to England, Mr. Henry Wansey, who wrote 
the following letter to Mr. Lindsey from Salisbury, August 28, 1794 : 

<f Dear Sir,— A packet was given me by Dr. Priestley to deliver to you, 
and I fully intended calling upon you with it, but could not get my boxes and 
baggage passed through the custom-house, and was obliged to leave London 
at last without accomplishing it ; your parcel, from over care, having been 
put into it. I lodged at the same house with the Doctor and family at New 
York, Mrs. Loring's, where you have, no doubt, heard how well and respect- 
ably he was received. All the families of consequence, even some of the 
clergy, called to pay their respects, though the latter did not carry their ci- 
vility so far as to offer any pulpit to him during the two Sundays he was there. 
Dr. Rodgers from his pulpit declared his abhorrence of all those who denied 
the divinity of Christ, and he hoped none such would come to his admini- 
stration of the Lord's supper. Yet Dr, Priestley was not prevented attending 
divine service there the Sunday after he arrived. The violence of the clergy 
against this doctrine, particularly on Trinity Sunday last, has been of as great 
service as a persecution ; for many principal families of New York, chiefly 
English, have stepped forward, and determined to have an Unitarian chapel 
there. That at Boston, under the care of Mr. Freeman, I observed was well 
attended, and Mr. Freeman told me, considerably increased. He (Dr. P.) 
requests you will get a minister of pleasing address and a good delivery to 
come to New York immediately. The Doctor, whom I accompanied out of 
New York, across Hudson's river, in his way to Philadelphia, assured me re- 
peatedly he was perfectly satisfied with the change he had made. His re- 
ception far exceeded his expectation ; his health and spirits were good ; but, 
however, that he should not enter into public life. At Princeton College, 
I learned from Dr. Smith, the Vice-president, that he would be offered the 
Presidency of a new college erecting in North Carolina ; but he told me he 
should positively decline it, and, after a very short stay at Philadelphia, go 
vp the Susquehanna to Northumberland, while his sons went on about forty 
miles further to put forward the new settlement of which I have so good an 
opinion that I have taken two shares. Many families of my acquaintance are 
going to the Loyalsoc, and my only fear is that they do not proceed with 
clearing and building till next spring, which is certainly losing time. For 
though the settlement will be rapid after a beginning is made, yet losing 
this season may induce some of those respectable families now going out to 
fix elsewhere. 

** It is a pleasant country; and the people I found every where friendly 
and hospitable ; a great sobriety of manners ; equality exemplified in its true 
sense ; nor do I once remember to have seen either a beggar or a ragged 
person, Adieu, Dear Sir, and believe me, &c ? &c." 

This settlement upon the Loyalsoc did not answer expectation, and upon 
further inquiry it was given up. The State prosecutions commenced soon 
after Dr. Priestley left England; and many of his friends were the more re* 
conciled to his emigration, as thinking that he might have been some way or 
other involved in them. But this was not probable. A man who joined no 
political society, who attended no public meetings, and who wrote no politi- 
cal books or pamphlets, was not likely to be the object of the vindictive ani-. 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



295 



however, much displeased at the bigotry of their mini- 
sters ; and the venerable exile was given to understand, 
that if he would fix his residence in New York a chapel 
and a congregation would not be wanting. But his de- 

madversion of an attorney-general. Even Mr. Lindsey's fears seem to have 
been needlessly alarmed upon this subject. In a letter to the Rev. William 
Turner of Newcastle, dated June 10, 1794, he writes, (( Nothing has been 
known of or from Dr. Priestley since his being off Falmouth ; between seven 
and eight weeks since. But under the protection of a good Providence we 
persuade ourselves that he has ere this touched the American shores. And 
such have been the changes since, that some of his best friends who sought 
to detain him here are now glad at his departure. For the prejudices against 
dissenters, especially of the more liberal sort, as enemies to their country be- 
cause they are against the present war, are so violent, and would have been 
so much heightened against him, that it might have made his life unpleasant, 
though I hope not insecure-" 

I shall add but one extract more upon this subject from Mr. Llndsey to the 
same excellent person, the son of his old revered confidential adviser and 
friend at Wakefield. The letter is dated November 9, 1 794, and strongly ex- 
presses the affectionate feelings of the venerable writer's heart : 

" I rejoice to hear that you have so favourable an opportunity of bearing 
testimony to such injured worth in exile from our unworthy country, and of 
recording that intimate friendship and union of studies and pursuits, which 
subsisted between that excellent person and your most worthy father. To 
have any place in the niche with two such eminent characters is a real ho- 
nour. No satisfaction do I know beyond that of recollecting the hours passed 
and benefit received in friendly communications with both. For some years, 
particularly when I resigned Catterick, there was no step of importance 
which I took without consulting both ; and the sketch of the Apology, soon 
after published, they were so good as to take the trouble of meeting, and 
passing a day with me at an inn in Knaresborough, when I read it to them. 

" 1 have been made happy by several letters received from Dr. Priestley 
since his arrival in America. In his last he mentions a very important mat- 
ter : the large purchase of lands on the Susquehanna was all over. They had 
been deceived by the proprietors, and by evidence which did not turn out sa- 
tisfactory, and thus after much delay, and some expense, many will be dis- 
appointed. 

" In the same letter he says he had an invitation from New York, to read 
lectures philosophical, and to open an Unitarian congregation. But he had 
declined on account of the distance from the place where his sons would be 
likely to settle. I am grieved at it, because New York was the place for him, 
the English American metropolis, the inhabitants more cultivated, of most 
easy access from Europe, &c. &c. This concern, however, was a little abated 
by the subsequent paragraph of his letter, relating that the Chemical Pro- 
fessor of the College in Philadelphia was believed to be on his death-bed, and 
that Dr. Rush had told him that, he believed he would be invited to succeed 
him. This he adds will oblige him to four or five months residence in Phila- 
delphia. And as there is a certain prospect of being able to establish an Uni- 
tarian congregation in the place, he shall not hesitate to accept the offer." 

This offer was made and declined much to the regret of many of Dr. Priest- 
ley's friends at the time ; but, as there is now reason to believe, not with 
;any eventual detriment to the cause of christian truth. 



296 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIII. 



siination was otherwise. He accompanied his son, who 
met him at New York, to Philadelphia, where he met 
with the same flattering attention from the laity, and the 
same repulsive spirit from the clergy ; and after remain- 
ing there a few weeks, he went with Mrs. Priestley to 
Northumberland, a small settlement upon the banks of 
the Susquehanna, near the western boundary of Pennsyl- 
vania ; and here, to the great disappointment and ex- 
treme regret of all his friends, both in Europe and Ame- 
rica, he determined to fix his residence. Nor could the 
inconvenience of a new settlement, the want of literary 
and polished society, the many and great obstructions to 
epistolary intercourse with his philosophical and theolo- 
gical correspondents, the difficulty of obtaining books and 
philosophical instruments, nor even the offer of the che- 
mical professorship, and ultimately of the presidency of 
the College of Philadelphia, prevail with him to change 
his resolution. The reasons upon which a choice so ex- 
traordinary and unexpected, and so universally regretted, 
was founded, were never made known to the public. But 
whatever these might be, and though Dr. Priestley's reso- 
lution to fix his residence at Northumberland was at that 
time generally disapproved and lamented, the event has 
shown that it was a most beneficial choice. In no other 
situation would it have been possible for him to have 
commanded the leisure which was necessary for drawing 
up those important, learned, and instructive works which 
occupied his attention to the last hour of his life, and by 
which being dead he yet speaketh, and will probably con- 
tinue to speak, and to promote the great cause of chris- 
tian truth, and particularly the glorious long lost doctrine 
of the divine Unity, for ages to come. I particularly re- 
fer to his excellent Ecclesiastical History, and his judi- 
cious and valuable Notes upon the whole Bible, which 
are the result of much reading and reflection, though he 



CH. XIII.] REVEREND THEOPIIILUS LINBSEY. 



297 



makes no parade of authorities, a species of ostentation 
which he always despised, and the neglect of which, to a 
proper extent, may be regarded as a defect in his work 
much to be regretted. 

In this sequestered wilderness the venerable exile main- 
tained a regular correspondence with his revered and be- 
loved friend the subject of this memoir, which continued 
with little or no interruption till within a fortnight of his 
decease. He numbered his letters : there are one hun- 
dred and four; all of them now in possession of the wri^ 
ter of this work. They are interesting to those who knew 
and admired and loved the writer, but few of them would 
be interesting to the public. Dr. Priestley thought little 
of himself. He seldom touches upon personal concerns; 
and gives little account of what it would have been par- 
ticularly interesting to know, the mode of life, in a situa- 
tion so remote from, and so unlike to, that of civilized 
and polished Europe. His great mind was occupied in 
greater things. His whole soul was absorbed in the ac- 
quisition of knowledge, in the search after truth, and in 
devising and executing the best means of communicating 
information to others. And his letters are chiefly occu- 
pied in stating what he has done, is doing, and further 
intends to do, for promoting this great object : they 
breathe throughout a spirit of ardent zeal,, of rational 
piety, and of active and disinterested benevolence. In 
the Appendix a few are given, as a specimen of his ge- 
neral manner, and of the style and spirit of his corre- 
spondence*. Dr. Priestley, who had originally an excel- 
lent constitution, and who generally enjoyed uninterrupt- 
ed health, and an uniform flow of good spirits, naturally 
and reasonably expected to outlive his aged friend, who 
was ten years further advanced in life than himself. But 

* Appendix, No. XI L 



298 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XIII. 

Divine Providence ordered otherwise. This great man 
gradually declined in health, after a severe fever which 
attacked him in Philadelphia, in the spring of 1801, and 
from which he was by copious bleeding with much dif- 
ficulty recovered. He expired in the bosom of his family 
on the 6th of February 1804. A most interesting ac- 
count of his last sickness was written by his son Mr. 
Joseph Priestley, in a letter to Mr. Lindsey, which by 
some means found its way into the public papers, and 
was, it is believed, copied and circulated in all the pe- 
riodical publications in Europe, Asia, and America, to 
testify to the world how a well-informed philosophic 
christian can die. 

His aged friend bore the intelligence with the calm 
dignity and pious resignation of one who placed entire 
confidence in the hopes and promises of the Gospel ; and 
who, feeling the infirmities of age advancing fast upon 
him, expected soon to rejoin his beloved fellow-labourer 
in happier circumstances, and in an improved and per- 
manent state of existence, where virtue that has been tried 
and perfected shall receive its appropriate reward, 



CHAPTER XIV. 

dr. priestley's reply to paine's age of reason re- 
printed IN ENGLAND BY MR. LINDSEY, WITH A PRE- 
FACE IN VINDICATION OF DR. PRIESTLEY'S CHARACTER. 

mr. lindsey republishes another work of dr. 
priestley's, with a short preface, dr. priest- 
ley's ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MR. LINDSEYS KIND- 
NESS. ANALYSIS OF MR. LINDSEY's LAST PUBLICA- 
TION, ENTITLED^ CONVERSATIONS ON THE DIVINE GO^ 
VERNMENT. 

When Dr. Priestley arrived in America he found that 
Paine's Age of Reason had been lately imported into that 



CH. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LTNDSEY. 299 

continent, and that by its bold dogmatical spirit, and by 
its successful attack upon those corruptions of the chris- 
tian doctrine which usually pass for Christianity, and which 
in this treatise were assumed as such, a deep impression 
had been made upon the minds of the unthinking and 
the unwary ; and that many were seduced by this plau- 
sible and popular performance from the christian faith. 
No sooner, therefore, was this zealous advocate for reveal- 
ed truth settled at Northumberland, than he published 
an answer to Paine's work in the form of Letters to a Phi- 
losophical Unbeliever, in October 1 794, a copy of which 
he sent over to Mr. Lindsey, who reprinted it in England, 
in the beginning of the year 1795, with a preface, the 
chief design of which was to vindicate the character of 
his absent and much -injured friend. 

" As every event whatever," says this able advocate of 
exiled merit, "every circumstance of the life of every man, 
is ordained and over-ruled by the infinitely wise and good 
Creator, for the virtuous improvement and present and 
final happiness of the universe, and of each individual in 
it, we may be fully persuaded, that where man intends 
evil, God intends and brings forth good, and that the 
best purposes of the divine government will be promoted 
by the means of those unworthy passions which compelled 
this eminent person to take refuge in America." He 
adds, that " they have begun to show themselves in the 
reception which has been given to. Dr. Priestley, and in 
the general estimation in which he is held, notwithstand- 
ing the base arts which have been used to poison that 
people's minds, and to turn them against him." 

Mr. Lindsey then states, that it was desired and ex- 
pected by the friends of divine revelation in America, 
that he should reply to Paine's Age of Reason, and un- 
dertake a cause he was so well able to defend ; and he 
flatters himself that the republication of it in England 



300 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[oh. XIV. 



may contribute to rescue some who are " hastening to 
the dreary gulf" of infidelity. 

He puts the question, "What could raise up such a 
storm against so respectable a character as to constrain 
him to retire a voluntary exile from his country, where 
he was so justly loved and esteemed by some of the most 
exalted characters ?" He instances in Dr. Price, Sir 
George Savile, and Mr. Lee, the late solicitor-gen eral s 
who particularly admired his Letters to Mr. Burke, and 
at whose house " in Lincoln's-inn-fields for near twenty 
years the friends were wont to spend their Sunday even- 
ings together, whenever they were in town, in cheerful 
pleasantry, and free discussion of all subjects, for two men 
more formed and furnished for social converse than Dr. 
Priestley and Mr. Lee are rarely found." To the cata? 
logue of Dr. Priestley's friends he also adds the respected 
names of Dr. Shipley, bishop of St. Asaph, and Dr. Law, 
bishop of Carlisle, c< who was in perfect accord with him 
in his sentiments on most subjects." He concludes with 
the name of Dr. Jebb, to whom Dr. P. dedicates his 
Treatise upon Philosophical Necessity. "In that beau- 
tiful and luminous composition," says Mr. Lindsey, "pro- 
ceeding from the fulness of the heart, and conviction of 
the truth of that glorious principle in which they both 
agreed, you read the true character of the men, and what 
all may become who are under the like influences." 

It is obvious to remark here how cordially Mr. Lind- 
sey concurs with his learned and virtuous friends in the 
belief of the truth and importance of what he calls the 
"glorious principle" of philosophical necessity, and in 
admitting those grand and consolatory consequences 
which flow from it, " that every circumstance of the life 
of every man is ordained and over-ruled by the infinitely 
wise and good Creator," for the best purposes. What 
childish simplicity and ignorance does it betray in spma 



CH. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 301 

to feign or to feel alarmed at the tendency of those doc- 
trines which are avowed by such men as Lindsey, Priest- 
ley, Hartley, and Jebb, and which are represented by them 
as lying at the foundation of all right views of the divine 
government^ of all rational piety and virtuous practice, 
and of all rational and substantial consolation ! And yet 
such persons feel no alarm at the vulgar notion of philo- 
sophical liberty, or the power of acting differently in cir- 
cumstances precisely similar ; a notion, the fond persua- 
sion of which encourages men to venture into circum- 
stances of moral danger, and to which thousands of the 
young and inexperienced, especially, are daily falling vic- 
tims. 

To account for the hostility against Dr. Priestley, which 
eventually compelled that great and good man to seek 
an asylum in America, his friendly advocate states most 
truly, that " Dr. Priestley had an ardent active zeal for 
reformation ; that penetrated with the most absolute con- 
viction of the reality of the Divine Unity, and of the con- 
nexion which the belief of it had with the peace, the vir- 
tue, and happiness of mankind, he hesitated not in his 
immortal writings from the press in the smallest size, 
and to the level of the lowest capacities, as also in larger 
and more learned volumes ; from the pulpit also, on pub- 
lic and proper occasions, to maintain and defend that 
there was no God but the Father; and that the worship 
of Jesus by protestants was equally idolatrous with the 
worship of his mother Mary by the papists." He adds, 
that fC in nothing did Dr. Priestley give more offence, or 
more excite the ill-will of many against him, than by 
those freedoms in censuring the interference of the civil 
power in things of religion, all usurpation upon consci- 
ence, wherever lodged, or by whomsoever exercised." And 
he instances particularly in the Doctor's Familiar Letters 
to the Inhabitants of Birmingham, 



302 



MEMOIRS OF THE late 



[CH. XIV, 



Mr. Lindsey then introduces some just strictures upon 
the illiberal reflections cast upon the Unitarians by Bishop 
Hurd in his Life of his friend and patron Bishop War- 
burton. Such obloquy, however, so far as Dr. Priestley 
was the object of it, he states as abundantly compensated 
by the grateful and admiring testimony of numbers* both 
in and out of the established church, " to his exalted 
character and extraordinary merits." As a specimen he 
introduces some beautiful lines addressed to Dr. Priest- 
ley by Mrs. Barbauld, whom he justly styles "a genius 
of superior order, and the strains such as Milton himself 
might have been proud to own." The reader* and I trust 
the elegant and accomplished writer will excuse me for 
inserting them at the bottom of the page. They were 
written when a panic was for party purposes spread through 
the country, of a plot to overturn the government, and 
when many fulsome addresses were carried up to the 
throne, and many foul and unfounded calumnies were 
circulated against the dissenters, as conspiring to over- 
turn the government, though they have always shown 
themselves firm friends to the illustrious family upon the 
throne*. 

The friendly advocate iiext animadverts upon the in- 
famous paragraphs circulated in The Times and other 
ministerial papers, charging Dr. Priestley, who was not 
present at the dinner, with having given as a toast at the 
hotel at Birmingham, on the 14th of July, "Destruc- 

* Stirs not thy spirit, Priestley, as the train 
With low obeisance and with servile phrase 
File behind file advance with supple knee, 
And lay their necks beneath the foot of power? 
Burns not thy cheek indignant when thy name. 
On which delighted science loved to dwell, 
Becomes the bandied theme of hooting crowds ? 
With timid caution, or with cool reserve 
When e'en each reverend brother keeps aloof, 
Eyes the struck deer, and leaves thy naked side, 
A mark for power to shoot at ? Let it be, 



CH. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 303 



tion to the present government, and the King's head in 
a charger ;" which, though it could neither be given nor 
received by any persons who were not insane, was never- 
theless currently believed, and contributed to inflame the 
phrensy of the day. Another paragraph inserted in The 
True Briton and The Sun, replete with falsehood and 
calumny respecting Dr. Priestley's reception in America, 
is cited by Mr. Lindsey, who also introduces Mr. Lyon's 
distinct contradiction and confutation of it. 

The generous and spirited advocate then proceeds to 
notice a cruel attack upon Dr. Priestley, published in 
America soon after his arrival there, entitled, Observa- 
tions on the Emigration of Dr. Joseph Priestley, &c. the 
design of which was to represent Dr. Priestley as a fire- 
brand, an open and avowed enemy to the constitution of 
his country, &c. It was doubtful whether this scurrilous 
libel was the production of an author on this or the other 
side of the Atlantic. Mr. Lindsey justly remarks, that 
<( from whatever quarter it issued, it is the work of a man 



' On evil days though fall'n and evil tongues,' 
To thee the slander of a passing age 
Imports not. Scenes like these hold little space 
In his large mind, whose ample stretch of thought 
Grasps future periods. Well canst thou afford 
To give large credit for that debt of fame 
Thy country owes thee. Calm thou canst consign it 
To the slow payment of that distant day, 
If distant, when thy name to Freedom's join'd 
Shall meet the thanks of a regenerate land. 

December 1/92. 

It is truly gratifying to all the admirers of taste and genius to find that this 
lady's muse, though long silent, has not deserted her. The same genius 
which inspired the strains which immortalised the patriots of Corsica in their 
struggles with their French and Genoese tyrants shines forth resplendently 
in the beautiful and sublime poem of " Eighteen Hundred and Eleven." But 
as in the former case, the muse, too sanguine in her expectations of success, 
apologized for having "read the book of destiny amiss," so may it prove with 
regard to the gloomy forebodings of the latter poem ! And may centuries 
after centuries elapse, as we trust they will, before the traveller from the 
western continent shall have occasion to inquire, Where once stood, the re- 
nowned seats of the Muses, the opulent emporiums of Commerce, or the 
proud Metropolis of the world ? 



304 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIV. 



who showed himself void of truth and of every moral 
principle, if he were an Englishman ; if an American, a 
gross and ignorant calumniator." This pamphlet, by the 
falsehood of its assertions and the foulness of its abuse, 
was rather of use than otherwise to Dr. Priestley, in 
America : and upon this side of the Atlantic it could do 
him no harm. The British Critic, indeed, with its wonted 
malignity, gave it all the currency it could, by a formal 
review of this " atrocious attack on the most virtuous of 
men," in the month of November 1794. Mr. Lindsey 
ably exposes the disingenuous and immoral conduct of 
this band of critics in " deliberately adopting and recom- 
mending what they could not but know to be a tissue of 
abominable calumnies." And it being understood that 
some persons of literary eminence were then concerned 
in the conduct of that monthly journal, the author spiri- 
tedly expostulates with them upon the baseness of their 
conduct, so unworthy the estimation in which upon other 
accounts they were held. " O moral degradation ! O 
shame to science ! when its votaries can lend their rare 
abilities, Heaven's gift for better purposes, to please the 
great, and gain their favour, and to lower and depress 
eminent virtue, and hinder others from reaping advan- 
tage from that example and those writings by which they 
might be formed to goodness, and excellence, and hap- 
piness for ever !" 

As to the work to which this defence of absent and 
injured merit is a preface, Mr. Lindsey says that " a copy 
of it having been put into his hands, he resolved to re- 
print it immediately." He adds, "it soon occurred, that 
it would be desirable and proper for me, if I could ac- 
quit myself in it in any tolerable manner,, to take the 
opportunity that offered, of saying something in behalf 
of an honoured and beloved friend, that might remove 
or soften the violent prejudices entertained against him 



fcH. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHlLUS LINDSEY. 305 

in this country and in this country only: for in all others 
his fame is great, and his character revered." And hav- 
ing justly animadverted upon the mean unmanly conduct 
of his enemies and slanderers, he adds, with much truth 
and pertinence, "Dr. Priestley's enemies, however, by 
their ignorant malevolent detraction, cannot make him 
unhappy, but only hurt themselves. Changing his coun- 
try, he changes not those habits which form the virtuous, 
the holy, the benevolent, the upright character. These 
constitute happiness ; these accompany a man wherever 
he goes, of which no malice or violence can deprive him*." 

In the year 1800 Dr. Priestley published in America 
a treatise upon the knowledge which the ancient Hebrews 
had of a future state, which Mr. Lindsey republished in 
England with a short preface, in which he notices with 
high satisfaction his honoured friend's continued activity, 
as the advocate of true religion; and augurs that "his 
writings will continue to promote this great end in his 
native country and America, and wherever the English 

* It will not be uninteresting to the reader to see what Dr. Priestley writes 
-to bis friend upon the subject of his own work and Mr. Lindsey 's preface. 

In a letter to Mr. Lindsey, dated Northumberland, October 16, 1794, Dr. 
Priestley says, " I have nearly printed the Continuation of my Letters to the 
Philosophers of France, and to a Philosophical Unbeliever j the latter in an- 
swer to Mr. Paine's Age of Reason, which is much read, and has made great 
impression here. Nor will you wonder at it when you consider what kind of 
Christianity is preached here. I am told that the Quakers read it with great 
avidity; and they have no knowledge at all of the proper evidence of Christi- 
anity, or the doctrines of it. Many of them, therefore, in this country either 
actually are, or are easily made, unbelievers. There are great expecta- 
tions, I am told, from my Answer to Paine, and I hope it will do good." 

July 12, 1795, Dr. Priestley writes, "I am exceedingly glad that you have 
at last got my Answer to Mr. Paine, and that you like it. I wish to see your 
Preface. It cannot give more pleasure to you than it does to me to have 
our names connected in every possible method. I hope they will be for ever 
i nseparable. One of my greatest mortifications is, that I cannot show you 
what I write, and be directed by you as usual." 

Dr. Priestley's modest and grateful acknowledgement of his venerable 
friend's kind and zealous vindication of his injured character is thus ex- 
pressed in a letter dated Northumberland, December 6, 1795 : 

"It is not long since I received the copy of your edition of my- Answer , to 
Paine. I read the Preface with much emotion, from a sense of the friendship 
to me expressed in it. If I had laboured ten times more than I have, I should 
not have thought it too much for such a reward." 

X 



30<J 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIV. 



language shall prevail, when he shall be no more. A 
rare privilege of Heaven's chosen favourites, and the truly 
good !* Dr. Priestley was highly delighted with this kind 
testimony of his venerable friend, and in a letter dated 
June 11, 1801, he thus expresses his grateful sense of 
Mr. Lindsey's friendship : 

" I thank you for your very friendly preface. When 
shall I acknowledge my many obligations to you in per- 
son ? Not, I now fear, on this side the grave. I there- 
fore think the more of the state beyond it. But while I 
remain here I am thankful that you continue here too. 
I sometimes think, and not without pain, how I shall feel 
when you are gone ; though our separation cannot be of 
long continuance, the difference in our ages not being 
quite ten years ; and I do not expect to survive you so 
long as that, if indeed at all. Of what unspeakable value 
is religion in circumstances like mine ! Without this I 
think I should hardly have been able to support myself ; 
but with it all difficulties, troubles, and disappointments 
are as nothing, being enabled to look beyond them." 
Such was the christian spirit which animated the cor- 
respondence of these virtuous friends, who were equally 
distinguished as lovers of truth, and examples of piety. 

Mr. Lindsey now declining far into the vale of years, 
being upon the verge of fourscore, but in the enjoyment 
of perfect health, and the full possession of his intellec- 
tual and active powers, seems to have taken up the de- 
sign of his old friend Dr. Courayer, and to have come to 
a resolution of laying before the public his last thoughts 
concerning the doctrines of revelation, and particularly 
concerning the wisdom and goodness of the divine ad- 
ministration ; and with this view, in the year 1 802 he 
published a small volume, entitled " Conversations on 
the Divine Government ; showing that every thing is from 
dad. and for Good to all." This volume is dedicated to 



CH. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 307 

Mrs. Sophia and Mrs. Frances Chambers, the sisters of 
the late Dr. Chambers, rector of Achurch in Northamp- 
tonshire, Mr. Lindsey's early friend, of whom mention 
has been made in a former part of this Memoir. An- 
other brother was an eminent merchant in London, who 
had a country house at Morden, where these ladies re- 
sided ; and in this house Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey found a 
quiet and hospitable retreat during the summer season, 
when they did not take any considerable journey. In the 
repose and leisure of this delightful mansion, Mr. Lind- 
sey appears to have composed and written this his last 
present to the public ; and he inscribes it to his worthy 
friends, " in gratitude for unwearied offices of the most 
disinterested friendship for near thirty years, to himself 
and Mrs. Lindsey, from them and their worthy brother ; 
and in testimony for their enlightened zeal for the wor- 
ship of the one true God, and a constant unostentatious 
readiness to do good." 

In his preface he observes, that the following work re- 
sults from the study and experience of a long life ; and 
he apologizes for the introduction of some repetitions by 
the remark, that " till a full conviction is wrought in the 
mind, that the government of this world is the wisest that 
could have been adopted, and that the evils and distresses 
of life are not permitted but for the good of all, the at- 
tention of the public cannot be too often solicited for the 
vindication of our Creator. Under the hope of promot- 
ing, in some degree, the interest of his fellow- creatures 
in so noble a cause, and of leading them to their hap- 
piest state, a full confidence and satisfaction in the ne- 
ver-ceasing love of their maker and God, the following 
remarks, imperfect as they are, are committed to the can- 
dour and serious attention of the benevolent reader." 

The Conversations are supposed to be held at the same 
place, and conducted by the same parties, as those upoi* 

x 2 



308 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH, XIV, 



christian idolatry, published ten years before. Victorin, 
in a letter to his friend Volusian, requests him to give 
some account of a very curious and interesting question, 
upon which they had come to an unanimous resolution, 
viz. " That there is nothing really and ultimately ill, 
in the state of man, but every thing ordered for the best 
for all." Volusian s reply contains an account of each 
day's conversation. Though this incident seems to be 
lost sight of in the course of the work* 

Volusian informs his friend, that the company "having 
fallen into conversation upon the very low repute in which 
the religion of Christ was every where held, at home and 
abroad," one of the party mentioned, that " in Holland 
and other parts of the continent, a little before the French 
Revolution, a general persuasion prevailed, that the chris- 
tian religion would soon be at an end." And he imputes 
that indisposition to Christianity which appeared to be 
rapidly increasing, to the corruption of the christian doc- 
trine. 

Photinus, in reply, expresses his confidence that Chris- 
tianity would maintain its ground; and ascribes the ha- 
tred which the philosophers upon the continent bore to 
revelation, to the interference of the civil power in sup- 
porting it by pains and penalties, which led them to con- 
ceive that all means, however dishonest, were lawful to 
overthrow a sanguinary and pernicious superstition. Pho- 
tinus however maintains, that the religion of Jesus wili 
remain unshaken, being confirmed by miracles. He af- 
firms the same of the Mosaic revelation, which also rests 
upon the basis of miracles, and of prophecy which is even 
now receiving its accomplishment. He makes some just 
observations on the nature, use, and proveableness of mi- 
racles. He then briefly states, what he calls " the plain 
old argument for a Deity : viz. that otherwise, the world 
we live in, with all its furniture and inhabitants, must 



Cll. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 309 

have come into being of itself, without any original de- 
signing mind." He adds, that the most serious diffi- 
culty with relation to the divine existence, arises from 
the existence and prevalence of vice and misery in the 
world ; and that if this state of things could by any means 
be reconciled to perfect goodness, it would provide the 
best remedy against scepticism. Marcellinus, in the 
name of the company, requests Photinus to undertake 
this task ; to which he consents, and the conversation is 
adjourned. 

In the process of the preceding Conversation the au- 
thor, under the character of Photinus, obviates the ob- 
jection against miracles as inconsistent with the divine 
immutability, by the supposition that <£ those events 
which we call supernatural, may be the result of esta- 
blished laws, and a more comprehensive plan of things, 
though unperceived by us; so that those operations call- 
ed miraculous, are as much the result of general laws as 
the most ordinary events." But the learned writer does 
not seem to have adverted to the fact, that this supposi- 
tion destroys the very existence of miracles, and subverts 
the argument founded upon them. The resurrection of 
Lazarus, upon this hypothesis, is no more miraculous 
than an eclipse of the sun ; and the prediction of the for- 
mer, which, according to this theory, would have hap- 
pened whether foretold or not, no more proves the divine 
mission of Christ, than foretelling an eclipse proved the 
inspiration of Thales. This hypothesis is in the high- 
est degree arbitrary and incredible. The essence of a 
miracle consists in its being a deviation from the esta- 
blished course of nature ; and the existence of a miracle 
proves a divine interposition, because no being but the 
Author of Nature himself could control its laws; and 
this violation of the law and course of nature in any given 
case, is perfectly consistent with the divine immutability; 



310 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH, XIV. 



because, at the instant when the laws of nature were 
fixed, the Supreme Being foresaw and determined that 
in this instance he would, for just and sufficient reasons, 
deviate from- that rule of conduct to which it was his 
pleasure generally to adhere. 

The second Conversation begins with a vindication by 
Photinus of the character of Lord Shaftesbury, the au- 
thor of the Characteristics, as a believer in revelation ; 
though his Lordship Speaks lightly of the characters of 
Abraham, Moses, and others of the Old Testament Saints, 
expresses doubts concerning some of the narratives con- 
tained in the Pentateuch, and hesitates to admit the ex- 
istence of miracles. This is advanced in reply to Volu- 
sian, who represents Lord Shaftesbury as one of those 
infidels who entertain right views of the character and 
government of God. How far the candid writer, under 
the character of Photinus, has succeeded in his chari- 
table purpose, is not material to inquire. The remain- 
der of the Conversation is employed in a very pleasing 
dissertation by Photinus upon the great goodness of God, 
as manifested in the wise and kind provision which he 
has made for the preservation, support, and enjoyment 
of animal and rational beings ; at the conclusion of which 
Marcellinus, after expressing his high approbation of his 
friend's doctrine, intimates his apprehension that " it 
would all be regarded merely as a beautiful theory, and 
these fine capacities of the rational nature to be bestowed 
in vain, and never likely to be brought to maturity, when 
we take a survey of the world at large, and scan what 
mankind have been, and still are ? in a moral view and 
he concludes with expressing his hope, that Photinus will 
continue to give his kind help in "exploring this mo- 
mentous subject." 

In the third Conversation Marcellinus begins with 
making some remarks upon the account of the Creation 



CH. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS UNDSEY. 311 

and the Fall, in the Book of Genesis, much of which he 
acknowledges to be " undoubtedly couched in allegory;" 
while it is " to be taken literally in other parts, which 
are at the foundation the moral instruction intended, 
is, however, " not difficult to be understood." Photinus, 
who is the chief speaker in these Conversations, having 
expressed his high satisfaction in the suggestions of his 
friend, proceeds to inquire what the history of man 
teaches concerning his attainment of that virtue and hap- 
piness for which he is intended, To this end, he enters 
into a brief detail of the dispensations of God to mankind, 
as they are related in the Jewish scriptures, first offering 
remarks upon the incidents which occur from the crea- 
tion to the deluge, by which " the almighty and mer- 
ciful Being judged it expedient to destroy the whole race 
of men from off the earthy all, except one righteous man 
and his family." 

The venerable writer then proceeds to comment upon 
the divine communications to Noah, to Abraham, and 
to Moses, and the effect which they produced in restrain- 
ing the vices of mankind, and in promoting virtue and 
piety. He contends earnestly for the excellency of the 
character of the Jewish legislator, the credibility of his 
history, and the divine authority of his institute, and re- 
presents those persons as " true objects of pity who, 
through some unfortunate bias on their minds, are led 
to reject a history of facts so well authenticated as those 
which have Moses for their author.'* He adds, not alto- 
gether in that spirit of candour which was habitual to Mr. 
Lindsey, that ^one is the more concerned for this incre- 
dulity, because the rejection of the important truths con- 
veyed in these books, most commonly springs from a 
fixed determination not to admit any accounts, however 
well attested, of divine extraordinary communications and 
revelations to mankind." But, surely, if the venerable 



312 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XIV. 

writer had for a moment reconsidered the case with his 
usual calmness and impartiality, he would have seen 
that a person may be a very firm believer in the divine 
mission and doctrine of Christ, and be well satisfied with 
the general evidence of the divine legation of Moses, 
while he at the same time may entertain very serious 
doubts, whether the books commonly attributed to Moses 
were really throughout written by him, and whether 
either the narrative or the institute exist at present ex- 
actly in the form in which he delivered them. And these 
doubts may be so far from springing c< from a fixed deter- 
mination to admit no doctrine as revealed," that they 
may originate in an anxious concern to extricate revealed 
truth from those human additions by which it is cor- 
rupted and disgraced. The respectable writer, therefore, 
may perhaps be regarded as not quite correct when he 
adds, in a tone of sarcasm unwonted with him, that "so 
long as such a person cannot be brought to see his error 
by the arguments laid before him, you can only be sorry 
for him, and wish him a mind more teachable and better 
informed." 

Photinus next goes on to justify the extermination of 
the Canaanites by the Israelites as an act of obedience 
to a divine command, and makes light of an argument 
sometimes offered in defence of this command, as being 
analogous to events which take place under the natural 
government of God, where human beings are " destroyed 
promiscuously by earthquakes and the like : as this is a 
defence which some are dissatisfied with, not holding the 
cases to be parallel." And it cannot be doubted, that if 
a divine command is proved, all objections must give 
way. If God required this great public execution, it must 
be consistent with the divine character to issue this de- 
cree ; and if he manifested his pleasure by repeated mi* 
raculous interpositions, the conduct of these chosen ex^ 



CH. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS UNDSEY. 313 

ecutioners of the divine will must be justified to them- 
selves, to the world, and even to the miserable sufferers, 
by the terrific mandate. So that the history is consist- 
ent. God does what he has a right to do ; and the Is- 
raelites are the innocent, and even meritorious, instru- 
ments of executing his sovereign pleasure. The case, 
however, is attended with difficulty ; and it must be al- 
lowed to be a very alleviating circumstance, if it can be 
shown that the order thus issued is analogous to what 
happens frequently under the divine government. He 
that made, has a right to destroy ; and the wise and just 
Being, who makes use of natural calamities for the pro- 
miscuous extermination of myriads, has an equal right 
to use voluntary agents as the instruments of inflicting 
similar calamities. But the fact which applies still more 
closely to the case in question is, that the righteous Go- 
vernor of the world does continually employ voluntary 
agents as the executioners of his will in the promiscuous 
destruction of their fellow creatures. Nebuchadnezzar 
is the rod in the divine hand to execute his vengeance 
upon Tyre and Egypt ; and a Caesar, or a Napoleon, are 
equally the instruments of spreading desolation and de- 
struction among the human race, as a Joshua or a David, 
though not equally innocent: one, if we credit the his- 
tory, acting under a divine commission ; the other, 
prompted by bad passions and sanguinary ambition. The 
purposes of infinite wisdom are fulfilled as well by the 
evil actions of evil men, as by the good actions of the vir- 
tuous. And this, without any diminution of the respon- 
sibility of the agent. Such is the express doctrine of the 
Scripture, in perfect harmony with the true philosophy 
of the human mind. 

The venerable author supports his own assertions and 
views of the institutes of Moses and the conduct of the 
Hebrew nation, by an appeal to the authority of Dr. 



14 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. XIV. 

Priestley. "See," says he, "that last and most in- 
valuable work, his Comparison of the Institutions of 
Moses with those of the Hindoos, of my most beloved 
friend Dr. Priestley. Although now far separated du- 
ring this transitory life, on the verge of which we both 
stand, there is humble hope of meeting again when the 
sleep of death is over. His numerous works will con- 
tinue to enlighten the world till the only true God will 
be more universally known, and the pure gospel of 
Jesus, his messenger, have its natural influence." 

Photinus next proceeds to state the great moral benefit 
which the heathen world derived from its enlightened 
philosophers and legislators, particularly Socrates and 
Cicero, the distinguished moralists and instructors of 
Greece and Rome in the ages in which they flourished; 
at the same time acknowledging, that the fairest charac- 
ters in heathen story were clouded with many inconsist- 
encies and imperfections, and that their instructions 
were ineffectual for the reformation of mankind: " no- 
thing was done to recover men to the knowledge of the 
true God and their obedience to him," nor " to put 
men upon attending to the inward principle of their 
actions, and amending their dispositions." 

This naturally introduces the necessity and advantage 
of the gospel dispensation which was now introduced 
into the world, and which was to be made known to the 
whole human race. " This was the new doctrine pro-* 
mulged from heaven, holding forth the supreme love of 
God, the common creator and benefactor, manifesting 
itself in the love of their fellow creatures and seeking 
their good as their own, as the sum and substance of all 
human duty and of all true religion, and leading to the 
highest perfection and happiness." This divine religion, 
however, was soon corrupted, " objects of worship were 
multiplied, the mother of Christ and other dead persons, 



CH. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 315 

male and female, a trinity of three persons in God, in- 
stead of the single person of the God and Father of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, and of all mankind. " So that, " to 
preserve the important doctrine of the Divine Unity from 
being overwhelmed and lost in christian idolatry, divine 
Providence seems to have permitted the impostor Mo- 
hammed to succeed in spreading his new religion over 
a great part of the globe." This religion professed to 
stand upon the great doctrine of the Divine Unity ; in 
which, as some think, he was at first sincere ; but being 
elated with success he grew ambitious, insolent, and 
cruel, and propagated his religion by fire and sword. 

Volusian here interposes, and enlarges upon the folly 
of ascribing to God (( a religion, whose first article is a 
direct violation of the first law of nature, in compelling 
by force to acknowledge and worship him." He insists 
upon the absurdity of persecution in every shape ; and he 
observes, that christians cannot, with any decency, " con- 
demn the Mohammedans for intolerance and cruelty," 
being themselves equally guilty; and represents it as a 
very great error, and that which lies at the foundation of 
all religious bigotry and persecution, to teach that chris- 
tians only can be saved, much more, \ c christians only 
of this or that particular church or sect;" whereas the 
truth is, that " all persons will be saved who are made 
pious and good by their religion, and none else." 

Photinus in his reply expresses his approbation of 
Volusian's principles; and, proceeding in his history of 
divine dispensations, he takes notice of the increased dif? 
fusion of light and knowledge by the dispersion of learned 
Greeks through Europe, after the taking of Constanti- 
nople by the Turks in the fifteenth century, and by the 
invention of the art of printing, He adds, that much 
good had been done " by the noble efforts of many ex? 
cellent christians, at the hazard, and sometimes theloss^ 



316 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [ch. XIV. 

of life, to revive and restore the worship of the true God, 
and to vindicate the unalienable right of all men to judge 
for themselves of the things of God." And he expresses 
himself in terms of high commendation concerning the 
religious liberty which had lately been established in 
France. Photinus concludes his long discourse with 
the general inference that, though the little effect of 
genuine virtuous principle, and the defective knowledge 
of God, too much appears in wars and persecutions, yet, 
" it would be unfair, and unjust, not to admit that 
knowledge and virtue have been upon the whole pro- 
gressive, and that very many eminent examples of both 
have been formed, and are forming, in every age and 
country." 

Photinus, after a pause, expresses his apprehensions, 
that " the account which had been given of the moral 
state of the world, might not be acceptable to those who 
look for perfection all at once in every thing that comes 
from God. But as we are convinced that a Being of all 
goodness has, in fact, appointed otherwise, and as we 
certainly do not love our fellow creatures nor desire their 
improvement and happiness more earnestly than he 
that made them, and his wisdom can best judge and 
direct how to attain that happiness, we may probably 
find that the methods he has actually chosen are fully 
suited to answer this end, though we may not immedi- 
ately see it." 

He then proceeds to give a brief detail of the disci- 
pline by which the moral character is usually formed ; 
the result of which he states to be, that " the bulk of 
mankind are, and have ever been, employed in useful 
labours for their families, and in doing good offices to 
others, their friends, neighbours, and acquaintance, and 
in giving or procuring relief and assistance where needed, 
and in a thousand beneficent actions." This favourable 



CH\ XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 317 



view of the human character he confirms by a curious 
quotation from Archbishop King, on the Origin of Evil*. 
And Photinus concludes the Conversation with obser- 
ving, " that thus the wisdom and goodness of the 
Creator are vindicated ; that he was not disappointed in 
the noblest work of his creation here below ; and that 
the world has been from the first, and all along, a nursery 
for virtuous, noble, and useful characters." 

The fourth Conversation is short, but by far the most 
interesting and impressive of the whole. In this the 
venerable author states and argues, with a warmth of 
feeling which shows how deeply his own heart was im- 
pressed with the magnificent speculation, and with a 
cogency of argument which can never be refuted, that 
all things are from God; that evil as well as good, 
moral as well as natural evil, are not only permitted, 

* The sentiments expressed by the learned prelate are so uncommon, 
and at the same time so just, and so exactly coincident with those which 
the writer of this Memoir has offered to the public in a work printed some 
years ago without any consciousness that they had before met with so able 
an advocate, that he will take the liberty of transcribing a considerable pait 
of the quotation alluded to above. 

The Archbishop is replying to an anonymous opponent who had said, 
" that the prevalence of wickedness or moral evil is a thing so certain, that 
he was confident no one could have the least doubt of it, and he durst say 
the author (the Archbishop) himself believed it." 

" The author professes himself to be of a quite different opinion," replies 
the Archbishop. " He firmly believes, and thinks he very well compre- 
hends, that there is much more moral good in the world than evil. He is 
sensible there may be more bad men than good, because there are none bur 
do amiss sometimes, and one ill act is sufficient to denominate a man bad. 
But yet there are ten good acts done by those we call bad men, for one ill 
one. Even persons of the very worst character may have gotten it by two 
or three flagrant enormities, which yet bear no proportion to the whole se- 
ries of their lives. The author must profess, that among such as he is ac- 
quainted with, he believes that there are hundreds who would do him good 
for one that would do him hurt, and that he has received a thousand good 
offices for one ill one. He could never believe the doct ine of Hobbes, that 
all men are bears, wolves, and tigers, to one another ; that they are bom 
enemies to all others, and all others to them j that they are naturally false 
and perfidious ; or, that all the good they do is out of fear, not virtue. Nay, 
the very authors of that calumny, if their own character were called in ques- 
tion, would take all possible pains to remove the suspicion from them, and 
declare that they were speaking of the vulgar 5 of the bulk of mankind, and 



318 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIV. 



but appointed by infinite unsearchable wisdom and 
benevolence. 

The Conversation is introduced by Marcellinus, who 
observes, that if evil be the result of the " untractable 
nature of matter," or of " a powerful evil Being whose 
interference is unavoidable, we must submit, and make 
the best of what we cannot avoid or amend. But all 
gloom would vanish, if it could be shown that the great 
whole of things is in such sort from God, that natural 
and moral evil are all of his appointment, and permitted 
for good." 

Photinus with great solemnity replies, " Be assured, 
my friends, that we do not, any of us, deem so highly of 
the boundless mercy and goodness of the sovereign 
Creator and parent of all things as his works and deal- 
ings with us and with all his creatures call for and de- 
cs 

mand, or we should entertain more exalted thoughts of 
him, and live under his government with a more un- 

not of themselves. Nor, in reality, do they behave in this manner toward 
their friends and acquaintance; if they did, few would trust them. Observe 
some of those who exclaim against all mankind for treachery, dishonesty, de- 
ceit, and cruelty, and you will find them diligently cultivating friendship and 
discharging the several offices due to their friends, their relations, and their 
country, with labour, pain, loss of goods, and hazard of life itself : even where 
there is no fear to drive them to it, nor inconvenience attending the neglect 
of it. This you will say proceeds from custom and education. Be it so. 
However, the world then has not so far degenerated from goodness, but the 
greater part of mankind exercise benevolence : nor is virtue so far exiled as 
not to be supported and approved, praised and practised, by common con* 
sent and public suffrage, and vice is still disgraceful. Indeed, we can scarce 
meet with one, unless pressed by necessity or provoked by injuries, who is 
so barbarous and hardhearted as not to be moved with compassion and 
delighted with benevolence to others ; who is not delighted to show good- 
will and kindness to his friends, neighbours, children, relations, and dili- 
gence in the discharge of civil duties to all ; who does not profess some re- 
gard to virtue, and think himself affronted when he is charged with immo- 
rality. If any one take notice of his own or another's actions for a day toge- 
ther, he will, perhaps, find one or two blameable, the rest all innocent and 
inoffensive. Nay, it is doubted whether a Nero or Caligula, a Commodus 
or Caracalla, though monsters of mankind, and prone to every act of wicked- 
ness and fury, have done more ill than innocent actions through their whole 
lives." 

See Bishop Law's Translation of Archbishop King's Origin of Evil, p. 388, 
fifth edit. See also Belsham's Elements of the Philos. of Mind, p. 397-403. 



Cft. XfV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LIKDSEY. 319 

interrupted joy and confidence than we seem to do ; so 
as not to admit any the least doubt or mistrust, that 
his goodness will in the end bear down every oppo- 
sition/' 

After this eloquent exordium, having stated that "we 
behold every where, and in all things, wise contrivance 
and intentions of kindness," also, that the rational 
creation are formed by their great Creator Si to be happy 
with his own happiness," in " supreme love to him and 
invincible affection to all our fellow creatures y he lays 
it down " as a safe and solid foundation of reasoning, 
that as the universe and all things m it are made to pro- 
duce happiness, and as there was nothing to over-rule 
him in his operations, such a discordant revolting mix- 
ture as vice and misery would not have beeB admitted, 
but because he saw it necessary for the fulfilment of his 
benevolent purposes, or rather because those purposes 
could not be obtained without it." 

This, which is probable in theory, Photinus proves 
' , to be true in fact for, if there had been no moral 
evil, mankind would have been destitute of those dis- 
positions and affections which are their highest perfec- 
tion, and the source of their purest happiness. Where 
would have been patience and forgiveness of injuries,, 
where the godlike disposition of returning good for evil, 
if there had been no fraud, or cruelties, or oppression ? 
" Had the good and virtuous of mankind been wholly 
prosperous," says an excellent person, "had goodness 
never met with opposition, where had been the trial, the 
victory, the crown of virtue?" He concludes with the 
important and sublime inferences, " So that, as it has 
been justly said of natural evil, pain, diseases, and the 
like, in vindication of the divine goodness, that there is 
no useless evil; so must we say of moral evil, sin, and 
wickedness, that, in the hands of God, every evil of every 



320 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIV. 



kind is made. an instrument of greater good and higher 
felicity than would otherwise have been enjoyed." 

Here Volusian, in a kind of ecstasy, interrupts Pho- 
tinus to express his delight in the satisfactory solution 
which his friend had given of this most difficult of all 
problems, the introduction of moral evil. And he la- 
ments that the great Frederic and his friend D'Alembert, 
rather than acquiesce in this easy and probable hypo* 
thesis, should have assumed that the Deity, if he exists 
at all, is an evil and imperfect Being ; that Christianity 
is untrue; and that there is no future life in which the 
difficulties and obliquities of the present state would be 
solved and rectified ; while he applauds the opposite con- 
duct of M. Turgot, the able and disinterested minister 
of Louis XVI, who, though, under the influence of in- 
vincible and inevitable prejudices, he rejected the chris- 
tian revelation, entertained just ideas of the divine cha- 
racter, and was a believer in a future life. 

Photinus, resuming his discourse after Volusian had 
finished, observes, " that it is matter of the highest 
exultation and joy, in which we may justly triumph, to 
be fully assured that mere arbitrary will and sovereignty, 
from which we could never know what we were to expect, 
has no sway in the divine government under which we 
are placed; and that original love and goodness are the 
beginning and end, the spring and measure, of all the 
actions of the Deity, and of all his dealings with us. 
Hence we conclude, that every evil of every kind is 
ordained for present or ultimate good. All natural 
and moral evils are from God, and under his sovereign 
control." 

To guard against the abuse of this sublime doctrine, 
Photinus remarks, that " we frail ignorant creatures are 
on no account to transgress the plain rule of moral duty, 
and to do evil that good may come ; because our under- 



CH. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 321 

standings are weak and limited, and we cannot be sure 
that the good we intend will happen. But our Maker, 
out of that limited quantity of evil which he judges fitting 
to appoint or permit, continually produces virtue and 
every good." And he offers some observations to obvi- 
ate the common objection, that this doctrine represents 
God as the author of sin. 

" We shall avoid," says Photinus, " some of the per- 
plexity and difficulties in which good minds are wont to 
be involved, from the idea of the evil actions of men 
being of divine appointment, as though God himself 
were the immediate author of sin and wickedness: if we 
consider that the Almighty Being, if we may so speak, 
acteth not immediately himself in directing the actions of 
men and influencing them to good and evil, but by the 
intervention of second causes ; in other words, it is by 
the different motives which arise in our minds from our 
situation and circumstances, which are all of divine ap- 
pointment, that we are led to evil and to good." Upon 
this supposition he explains the case of Lydia, whose 
heart the Lord had opened; and that of Pharaoh, whose 
heart was hardened. He afterwards adds, that " though 
we cannot but be persuaded that all the actions of men 
are under the antecedent appointment and direction of 
God, (for how could he otherwise govern the world ?) 
yet mankind are not a mere piece of clock-work, a set 
of unconscious machines. They acquire voluntary pow- 
ers, by which they do what they please, choose for them- 
selves, and follow their choice ; take blame to, and con- 
demn, themselves when they do what is wicked; and, 
more than this, think themselves not unrighteously dealt 
with in being made to suffer for their evil dispositions 
and actions in order to correct and amend them; nor, 
if they continue unreformed, to expect to escape punish- 
ment in a future state. So that, if God be charged in 

Y 



322 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIV. 



any way with being the author of men's sins, it is not in 
any such sense as to acquit the perpetrators, or to excuse 
them even in their own estimate from being responsible." 
photinus sums up his argument by stating, that u we are 
conscious that we are not mere puppets acted upon, but 
agents responsible for what we do. We are also fully 
persuaded, that all we do is beforehand known to God, 
and appointed by him. How this divine knowledge and 
appointment are to be reconciled to the freedom and 
responsibility of our actions, is beyond our comprehend 
sion; nor need we be at all concerned about it." And 
he pleads Mr. Locke's declaration and example for giving 
it up as an inexplicable difficulty. 

The venerable writer s solution of this famous difficulty 
does not appear to be perfectly satisfactory. The ques- 
tion may be considered either popularly or philosophi- 
cally. As a popular question, it is sufficient to state, 
that vice and wickedness, arising from the bad passions 
of men, will and ought to be punished here or hereafter; 
and, which is indeed true, that the foreknowledge of God 
makes no difference either in the crime or the punish- 
ment. But if the inquisitive mind, pursuing the inquiry 
in a philosophical way, is brought to the conclusion, 
which the venerable writer so clearly and forcibly states, 
that all evil, natural and moral, proceeds from God, and 
that vice, as well as misery, is of divine appointment, it 
becomes a serious question, and appears under the shape 
of a formidable objection to this sublime doctrine, Does 
it not make God the author of sin ? And is not Got! 
unrighteous in punishing sinners ? Nor will such an in- 
quirer be satisfied with being told, that God does not act 
directly upon the will, but through the' medium of mo- 
tives ; and that we are conscious that we are not puppets, 
but responsible agents, and that guilt is deserving of 
punishment. For in the first case it will immediately 



CK. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



323 



occur, that the cause of the cause is the cause of the 
foreseen effect; and that to leave a child upon a bank, 
from which it will inevitably roll into the river, is the 
same as to push him in. And, in the second case, it 
is asked, Where is the justice of punishing what was 
inevitable ? 

The true solution of the first difficulty, whether God 
be the author of sin? appears to be this: that God is, 
strictly speaking, the author of evil ; but that, in the first 
place, he never ordains or permits evil but with a view 
to the production of a greater good, which could not 
have existed without it. And, secondly, that though 
God is the author of evil both natural and moral, he is 
not the approver of evil; he does not delight in it for its 
own sake; it must be the object of his aversion, and 
what he would never permit or endure if the good he 
intends could have been accomplished without it. As 
to the second question, concerning the justice of punish- 
ment, the best and only philosophical solution of it is, 
that under the divine government all punishment is 
remedial. Moral evil is the disease, punishment is the 
process of cure, of greater or less intensity, and of longer 
or shorter duration, in proportion to the malignity and 
inveteracy of the distemper, but ultimately of sovereign 
efficacy under the divine government to operate a perfect 
cure ; so that those whose vices have been the means of 
proving, purifying, and exalting the virtues of others, 
shall, in the end, share with them in their virtue and 
their triumph, and the impartial justice and infinite bene- 
volence of the divine Being will be made known, adored, 
and celebrated to all eternity, through the whole created 
universe. But to return to the author : 

Photinus having finished his discourse, Synesius rose 
to speak; but the company agreed to defer the Conver- 
sation to another opportunity. . 

y 2 



324 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIV. 



In the fifth Conversation Synesius takes the lead. 
This gentleman, a real character it should seem, in the 
Conversations upon Christian Idolatry is represented as 
a blunt man, of sound understanding, zealous for the 
church, though seldom seen within its walls, and not 
much attached to its peculiar doctrines. He introduces 
the conversation with a profession of his conversion, and 
a recantation of his past errors, particularly in his doubts 
concerning the divine character, his scepticism concern- 
ing the Mosaic cosmogony, his account of the primitive 
dispensations of God to the human race, and the destruc- 
tion of the Canaanites : he expresses his great satisfaction 
in the " vast care and attention" which the writers of the 
Old Testament display in " teaching and holding forth" 
the Unity of God ; and wonders that at this time of day 
Mr. De Luc should take so much pains to 'f deprive us 
of the one true God, and introduce in lieu of him a God 
consisting of three persons," upon the authority of the ex- 
ploded text of the heavenly witnesses, which the Bishop of 
Lincoln, " to the credit of his judgement and integrity," 
gives up as spurious. Synesius further expresses his 
satisfaction in the solution given to the great difficulty, 
that Christianity " should have done so little to reform 
the world:" and he particularly admires Dr. Adams's 
judicious and temperate reply to the severe and un- 
founded sarcasms of Mr. Hume upon the Jewish nation, 
and their sacred writings, citing at length both the ob- 
jection and the reply. Synesius then notices the cha- 
racter of Abraham, and enters into a defence of the ac- 
count of his offering up his son Isaac, first in the words 
of Archbishop Tillotson, and afterwards by some obser- 
vations of his own. 

In conclusion Synesius observes, that his friends, after 
all, " had left untouched a main difficulty which Christi- 
anity puts in their way, by teaching the doctrine of end- 



CH. XIV.] REVEREND TI1E0PHILUS LTNDSEY. 325 

less punishments." They had indeed shown, that virtue 
naturally leads to happiness, and vice to misery ; and 
that in the state after death, as we continue under the 
same laws and divine moral government, those severe 
punishments which await evil-doers must, in the pro- 
gress of infinite ages, produce a return to virtue and 
goodness." He further suhmits to their consideration, 
that " as the Scriptures teach that all the dead shall be 
raised and judged according to their works, and do there- 
by implicitly give us hope, may we not rather say, give 
us humble assurance, that the gloomy sentence of anni- 
hilation will not pass on any of our species ; for we cannot 
entertain a thought that our benevolent Creator would 
bring back his creatures to life to put them on the rack 
as it were, and make them suffer for a time and then con- 
sign them to their primitive nothing; we may, therefore, 
make this inference, that none of the human race will 
be consigned to fruitless, unavailing suffering and misery 
for ever, but that, by the discipline to which they will be 
doomed, all will be brought to repentance and be saved," 
He further professes^ that " the threatenings of eternal 
punishment in the gospel have long since ceased to make 
any impression upon his mind, being counterbalanced by 
contrary declarations that God loveth all his creatures, 
and would not that any should perish, but that all should 
have everlasting life;" and he cannot be disappointed in 
his purposes. 

Synesius having ended his harangue, Photinus ap- 
plauds the observations of his friend, and particularly 
" what he had done to relieve the gospel from the im- 
putation of holding forth the doctrine of eternal tor- 
ments, a mill-stone which some mistaken christians had 
hung about it, and thereby alienated the minds of many." 
He then proceeds to state, that " the words eternal, ever- 
lasting, for ever, and the like, generally signify limited 



326 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



|_CH. XIV. 



periods of duration : so that our Saviour meant only to 
express, that the sufferings of a future state would be of 
an exceeding long duration, and thereby to enforce the 
necessity of attending to the divine laws, and the dreadful 
danger of violating them f and he concludes the Con- 
versation with a pertinent quotation from Dr. Hartley's 
Observations on Man, in which that great philosopher, 
with his usual acuteness and strength of argument, 
establishes the joyful doctrine of " the ultimate unli- 
mited happiness of all mankind." 

In the sixth and last Conversation, Synesius is again 
almost the only speaker. Having observed to Marcelli- 
nus, that after having hinted at the existence of an evil 
spirit as one of the supposed causes of the <4 great misery 
and wickedness complained of in the world, he had after- 
wards been wholly silent about it;" he represents the 
vindication of the divine goodness as very " lame and 
defective," unless they can show the insufficiency of the 
evidence produced to prove " the existence of such a foul 
malignant fiend," and (( begs permission to state his own 
thoughts upon the subject which he had with some dili- 
gence put together." The company having expressed 
high satisfaction, Synesius enters with alacrity upon the 
interesting argument. 

He first expresses his surprise that it should be so 
generally current with the learned as well as the un- 
learned, that the serpent who tempted Eve was a wicked 
spirit, when Moses gives no such intimation, and never 
alludes to the esistence of any such evil being in any of 
the five books ascribed to him. 

The word Satan in the Old Testament is only used 
to signify an adversary, which is its proper meaning. 
And that the Jewish scriptures contain no revelation of 
the existence and agency of an evil spirit is evident, be- 
cause " we perceive not in them any religious exhorta- 



CH. XIV.] 



REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



327 



tions or cautions to beware of the wiles and power of 
such an evil being from first to last." 

Synesius further argues, that " as the christian scrip- 
tures certainly contain no new revelation of an evil being, 
and as the Jewish scriptures did not teach it, the Jews 
must have acquired this notion during the captivity, and 
probably from the Chaldeans among whom they dwelt." 
This doctrine was incorporated into their theology, and 
their language framed and accommodated to it ; and 
this would remain in common use even after the doctrine 
itself was given up. " And to this language our Saviour 
and his apostles would conform themselves, though there 
be no good reason to think that either the one or the 
other gave credit to the reality of this evil being." 

The speaker having remarked, that no evil being had 
any concern in Christ's temptation, proceeds to state our 
Lord's own sentiments concerning Satan; and shows, 
1 . " That Christ very commonly uses the word in its pri- 
mary sense, as signifying an adversary, as when he said 
to Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan." 2. " There is 
no reason to believe that he ever means to imply that 
there was in reality any such being :" for example, by 
the expression I saw Satan as lightning fall from heaven, 
he means nothing more than selfish worldly desires, 
hatred of God and goodness, &c.* He then adduces 
many passages in which the word Satan, devil, &c. are 
used figuratively to express the principle of evil in ge- 
neral, or evil habits and affections in particular. And 
from various citations from the Acts and the Epistles he 
draws the conclusion, that tc the apostles of Christ, like 

* Satan, i. e. the enemy, the principle of hostility, the opposing persecu- 
ting power : Christ, by the spirit of prophecy, foresaw that his Gospel should 
make a rapid progress in the world, and triumph over all opposition. This 
interpretation seems better to suit the primary sense of the word and "the 
connexion in which it is introduced, than that of the venerable writer in the 
character of Synesius. See the Improved Version on Luke x. 17, 18. 



328 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XIV. 



their great master, seem not to have understood that 
there was any devil or evil being without them whom 
men need to be afraid of." 

" The sum of all is this: There is no evil in the world 
but what takes its rise from men themselves ; nor any 
devils, but so far as men extremely wicked and aban- 
doned may deserve the name. And to uphold such evil 
beings is to engraft heathenism on Christianity*." 

i( To these conclusions of Synesius the whole company 
gave their hearty concurrence; and after these friendly 
conferences, they returned to their respective homes and 
duties, more fully impressed with their obligation as 
Christians to study the word and works of God, to add 
practice to knowledge, and to communicate to others 
that light and truth which lead to eternal life." 

The " Conversations upon the Divine Government'' 
are not, perhaps, equal, as a composition, to those upon 
Christian Idolatry, which were published ten years before. 
The speeches are rather too long, and too formal ; and 
the sentiments of the speakers are not sufficiently con- 
trasted to keep up the spirit of the dialogue. Also, the 
arguments and criticisms are such as will not in every case 
satisfy the critical reader. And the venerable writer has 
needlessly encumbered his work, and in some degree 

* The venerable author in a note, highly gratifying, though too partial 
to the writer of this Memoir, has referred to a passage upon the subject of 
this Conversation in his Review of Mr. Wilberforce's Treatise. A more 
complete and accurate view of the subject may be found in the Rev. John 
Simpson's Dissertations on the Language of Scripture. The writer of this 
Memoir has also treated the subject much more at large in a series of Dis- 
courses delivered from the pulpit, which may perhaps at some future time 
be offered to the public. In the mean time, may he be permitted to express 
the high gratification he feels at the recollection that when his venerable 
friend, bending under the weight of years, was taking his final leave of the 
public, almost the last sentence that he penned should be a public testimony 
of affection and friendship to the writer of this Memoir, which that writer 
esteems as the highest honour and happiness of his life, and an ample com- 
pensation for all his exertions and sacrifices, whatever they may have been, 
in the cause of truth and undefiled Christianity, even (as Dr. Priestley ex- 
presses it on another occasion,) had they been ten times more and greater 
than they were. 



CH. XIV.] REVEREND THEOPHTLUS LINDSEY. 329 

weakened his argument, by assuming, and that in rather 
too lofty a tone, the credibility of the whole, or at least 
of too great a proportion, of what is commonly called the 
Mosaic history. Bat the work is curious and interesting 
as containing the last thoughts of an eminently pious, 
benevolent, and inquisitive mind upon a variety of sub- 
jects of great practical importance. Much of the philo- 
sophical part of the work is admirable, and the arguments 
are irresistible. In his conclusions he sometimes falters 
by adopting popular rather than philosophical language. 
But in the grand conclusion of all, the assertion of the 
great and sublime doctrine of the ultimate unlimited 
virtue and happiness of all mankind as the glorious con- 
summation of the divine government, and the illustrious 
and magnificent display of infinite and impartial good- 
ness over-ruling, absorbing, and extinguishing all vice 
and misery in the creation, the venerable author is ex- 
plicit and decided. The work exhibits a most interesting 
view of the aged patriarch's pious, candid, benevolent, 
and cheerful mind, of his humble and devotional spirit, 
and of the happy influence of that rare combination of 
the principles of a sublime philosophy with the doctrines 
of a pure and unsophisticated Christianity, which, when 
they become the ruling principles of conduct, elevate the 
human character to its highest dignity, and ensure the 
most substantial, exalted, and permanent felicity. Thus 
gently, thus usefully, did this eminent servant and 
minister of Christ pursue his way to that quiet abode 
which is the house appointed for all the living. 



330 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH» XV. 



CHAPTER XV. 

ME. L1NDSEY SUFFERS A PARALYTIC SEIZURE, BUT 
RECOVERS. DR. PRIESTLEY'S REFLECTIONS UPON 
THE SITUATION OF HIS FRIEND, AND UPON MR. 
LINDSEY'S LAST WORK. MR. LINDSEY INTERESTS 
HIMSELF IN THE APPOINTMENT OF THE AUTHOR 
TO THE CHAPEL IN ESSEX STREET. ENCOURAGES 
AND ASSISTS THE IMPROVED VERSION. HIS GRA- 
DUAL DECLINE AND DEATH. CONCLUSION OF THE 
WORK. 

Mr. Lindsey, after the resignation of his office in 
1793, continued for some years to enjoy an uncommon 
portion of health, vigour, and activity, and that uniform 
flow of cheerfulness which is the natural result of a 
good constitution, and the recollections of a well-spent 
life. - His retrospects were most gratifying ; his antici- 
pations delightful, his principles most rational and 
consolatory, his circumstances easy. He was happy in 
the affection and attention of the best of women, in the 
society of chosen and virtuous friends of principles and 
spirit similar to his own, in frequent correspondence 
with the man after his own heart, in an ardent but 
unostentatious piety and confidence in God, in unli- 
mited resignation to the divine will, and in the growing 
success of the great cause which was nearest to his 
heart, the cause of christian truth and christian virtue, 
to the revival of which he could not but know that his 
own exertions and example had in a considerable degree 
contributed : he possessed his faculties entire, bodily 
and mental, and seemed to be in a degree privileged 
with exemption from the infirmities of age. The first 
alarm was excited in the spring of 1801, when Mr. and 
Mrs. Lindsey were upon a visit for a few days at Rei- 



CH. XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 331 



gate, the residence of their learned and estimable friend 
Francis Maseres, Esq. Cursitor Baron of the Exchequer*. 
The weather being uncommonly warm for the season, 
Mr. Lindsey experienced a slight paralytic affection on 
one side, which however disappeared in a few days, 
But in the latter end of December of the same year he 
suffered a severe stroke, which at first excited the great- 
est apprehension. From this indeed he soon recovered 
surprisingly, so as to be able in the beginning of 
January following to finish his last interesting work, 
the Conversations upon the Divine Government. After 
this seizure he gradually declined in bodily strength 
and vigour, though he was generally free from pain, 
and his faculties for a considerable time were not sen- 
sibly impaired. 

The writer of this Memoir first announced the painful 
tidings to the venerable exile at Northumberland. Soon 
afterwards Mrs. Lindsey wrote, and at that time Mr. 
Lindsey was so far recovered as to be able to add a 
postscript. The feelings of Dr. Priestley's affectionate 
heart, upon the sad intelligence of his friend's illness, 
are expressed with so much simplicity, and in a strain 
of such exalted piety, founded upon such just and 
philosophic views of the christian revelation, in the 
following letters, that they cannot fail to be exquisitely 
gratifying to the serious reader. 



* To Mr. Baron Maseres Mr. Lindsey acknowledges himself indebted 
for many favours for near thirty years, and describes his friend as " one 
whose liberal, benevolent, and generous labours are constantly exerted in 
various ways to benefit mankind, and promote the cause of true religion 
and virtue." And he adds that to this gentleman's '? suggestions jointly 
with those of John Lee, Esq. was owing the variation made in the last 
edition of the Reformed Liturgy in 1793, after the model of the excellent 
Dr. Samuel Clarke, by changing the threefold address retained in the 
liturgy to one solemn and appropriate one. They justly observing, that a 
threefold address would keep up the old impression of a threefold nature 
in the Deity, so contrary to the Scriptures." Conversations on the Divine 
Government, p. 140. Note. 



332 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [ch. XV. 

(To Mrs. Lindsey.) 

" Dear Madam, Northumberland, May 8, 1802. 

" I cannot express how much I was affected on read- 
ing your letter; though I was apprized of the situation 
of my best friend by the letters of Mr. B., so that I had 
no reason to expect any different account. But the 
few lines he added with his own hand quite overcame 
me; and if I read them, as I shall do, a hundred times, 
I shall have the same emotions. Such friendship as 
his and yours has been to me can never be exceed- 
ed on this side the grave ; and^ independent of the 
real emolument, has been a source of such satisfaction 
to me as I have not derived from any other quarter. 
And yet what I feel is not properly grief. For, con- 
sidering how near we both must be to the close of life, 
in which we could not promise ourselves much more 
enjoyment, or be of much more use, what remains 
cannot according to the common course of nature be 
of much value, and therefore the privation of it is no 
great loss. And considering how soon we may expect, 
and I hope without much presumption, to meet again 
in more favourable circumstances, the causes of joy may 
almost be allowed to balance those of grief. The loss 
to you will be much greater than to any other person, 
as that of such a constant companion and christian 
friend necessarily must be. How few couples are there 
so suited to one another in dispositions and views, and 
those of the best and noblest kind, as you are ! I have 
never known the like. You have therefore every reason 
to expect a renewal of your union, though in some other 
way, hereafter. 

" If you saw me now, you would not flatter me with 
the prospect of long surviving my excellent friend. 
Judging from my illnesses last year, and my present 
feelings, I am far from expecting it myself. And 



CH. ;XV. J REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 333 



indeed, as it will be the will of God, whatever the event 
be, and therefore no doubt for the best, I cannot say 
that I greatly wish it. My labours, of whatever kind 
and whatever be their value, are nearly over; and I have 
now hardly any wish but to see the printing of my 
Church History and Notes on the Scriptures. 

" I beg, dear Madam, you would not fail to continue 
the correspondence of your excellent husband, and write 
as you say upon all sorts of subjects. Whatever interests 
you will interest me, and I hope Mr. Lindsey, whenever 
he is able, will add his signature. 

" Yours and Mr. Lindsey's most affectionately, 

"J. P." 

(Rev. 2\ Lindsey.) 

i% Dear friend, Northumberland, June 26, 1802. 

" Whether it be you or Mrs. Lindsey that is my 
correspondent, I consider it as the same thing. You 
are alike my friends, and my best friends ; and whoever 
survives, this correspondence will not, I hope, cease, 
while it is possible to continue it, on this side the grave. 
This great change to which we are making near ap- 
proaches, I regard, I hope I may say, with more curi- 
osity than anxiety. It is the wise order of Providence 
that death should intervene between the two different 
modes of existence, and what engages my thoughts is 
the change itself, more than the mere manner of making 
it. I look at your portrait, and that of Dr. Price and 
Mr. Lee, which are always before me, and think of my 
deceased friends whose portraits I have not, with pecu- 
liar satisfaction, under the idea that I shall at no great 
distance of time see them again, and I hope with plea- 
sure. But how we shall meet again, and hoiv we shall be 
employed, we have little or no ground even for conjecture. 
It should satisfy us, however, that we shall be at the dis- 
posal, and under the government, of the same wise and 



S34 



MEMOIRS "OF THE LATE 



[CH. XV. 



good Being who has superintended us here, and who 
knows what place and employment will best suit all of 
us. The more I think of the wonderful system of 
which we are a part, the less I think of any difficulties 
about the reality or the circumstances of a future state. 
The resurrection is really nothing compared to the won- 
ders of every day in the regular course of nature : and 
the only reason why we do not wonder is, because the 
appearances are common. Whether it be because I 
converse less with men in this remote situation, I con- 
template the scenes of nature, as the production, of its 
great Author, more, and with more satisfaction, than I 
ever did before ; and the new discoveries that are now 
making in every branch of science, interest me more 
than ever in this connection. I see before us a bound- 
less field of the noblest investigation, and all we yet know 
appears to me as nothing, compared to what we are 
wholly ignorant of, and do not as yet perceive any means 
of access to it. I now take great pleasure in my garden, 
and plants as well as other objects engage more of my 
attention than they ever did before; and I see those things 
in a more pleasing light than ever. I wish I knew a 
little more of botany, but old as I am I learn something 
new continually. I admire Dr. Darwin's Phytologia, and 
am reading it a second time. But this work, w 7 hich I believe 
contains all that we yet know of this part of nature, shows 
me how little that all is. Before he died, I am inform- 
ed he was about to publish another work, in' which he 
maintained the doctrine of equivocal generation ; and of 
all absurdities this appears to me to be the greatest, if 
by it. they mean to exclude intelligence from the system 
of nature. And I cannot see any other reason why un- 
believers in revelation should lean as many now do to 
that doctrine. Their faith has certainly less evidence 
than ours. 



CH. XV.} REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



335 



"I have written a dedication of the second part of my 
History to Mr. Jefferson, and have sent him a copy of 
it for his approbation. The preface is the longest I ever 
wrote ; but I hope you will not dislike it. It consists 
chiefly of reflections on the middle and dark ages. As 
soon as a copy can be made up, one shall be sent to you. 
In the Monthly Magazine I see an account of your late 
publication. How I long to see it ! and surely it might 
have been here as soon as that magazine. 

"I have not heard from Mr. Johnson for near two 
years. My time is short and uncertain, and consequent- 
ly my want?, though not many, are urgent. . • .. r 

" Yours and Mrs. Lindsev's most affectionately, 

"J. P. 

"I have just received yours of March 23, I need not 
say how happy it makes me." 

Dr. Priestley's next letter is an answer to this of Mr. 
Lindsey's ; the insertion of it will need no apology ; the 
sentiments contained in it must be acceptable to every 
friend of the christian religion who has a head to think^ 
or a heart to feel. 

"Dear friend, North umberland, July 3, 1802.. 

"How rejoiced I was to receive, your letter written 
ivholly with your own hand, after your late alarming at- 
tack ! I now hope I shall have more of them ; and no- 
thing on this side the grave gives me more satisfaction, 
And yet, considering how soon we may hope to meet 
again, the separation by death should not give us much 
concern, While we live we ought to value life and frier, c- 
ship, especially christian friendship, as the balm of it. 
But we have a better life in prospect, and therefore 
should riot regret the parting with the worse, provided 
we have enjoyed it .properly, and improved it so as to have 



336 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [cH. XV* 

ensured the better. Absolute confidence does not be- 
come any man, conscious,- as we all must be, of many 
imperfections, of omissions, if not of commissions. But 
surely, a general sincere endeavour to do what we appre- 
hend to be our duty, will authorize so much hope as may 
be the reasonable foundation of joy, with respect to a 
future state, without being chargeable with arrogance or 
presumption. 

"You could not have made choice of a more pleasing 
or interesting subject than that of the work which you 
have happily completed, and which, as 1 believe it is in 
Philadelphia, I expect very soon to receive. It occupies 
my own thoughts, I may say almost constantly, and is 
the greatest source of satisfaction that in my present si- 
tuation, and under my late trials, I enjoy. Indeed the 
reflection that we are under the government of the wisest 
and best of Beings, and that nothing can befall us with- 
out his permission, is sufficient to balance the very idea 
of evil, and make us regard every thing as a good, for 
which we ought to be thankful. At the moment, none 
who have the hearts and feelings of men but must grieve 
for many things that he sees and feels. But christian 
principles soon bring relief, and are capable of converting 
all sorrow into joy. But this will be in proportion to 
the strength of our faith, in consequence of the exercise 
of it ; when, according to Hartley, speculative faith is 
converted into practical. 

"We have printed one volume of the History, and, as 
I told you, I have dedicated it to Mr. Jefferson. I in- 
close his letter on receiving a manuscript copy of it. I 
have since altered it, I hope, to his mind, and shall very 
soon send it, together with the volume. I do not mean 
to dispose of any of the copies till all the three volumes be 
completed, which, if I do not take a journey in October, 
will be done about Christ mas. I now hope you will see 



CH. XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



337 



tins work, and even the Notes on the Scriptures which I 
hope you will like still better. As I wish you particu- 
larly to see the Preface and Dedication, I shall send a 
copy by the next post. The latter will not please you, 
as not calculated for England. But I have done with 
that country ; and am indifferent to what my enemies 
may think of me. I shall always appear, as I am, a sincere 
friend to the country, and shall not with intention say any 
thing offensive of its constitution, or the administration 
of it. I rejoice that its situation is much better than I 
feared such a war would leave it. 

" \ ours and Mrs. Lindsey's most affectionately, 

" J. Priestley. " 

How great must be the excellence of those principles, 
which in circumstances that to a common mind would 
be most depressing, could produce this habitual conso- 
lation, peace and hope, and could convert evil itself into 
good, and sorrow into joy ! Plow infinitely superior to 
that sad and cheerless scepticism which can meet the 
troubles of life, the evils of oppression and persecution, 
and the separation or death of friends, with nothing bet- 
ter than a stern and stoical apathy, and is destitute of 
every pleasing and consolatory hope of a life to come ! It 
was a just observation of Lord Rochester, that if Chris- 
tianity be a delusion, it is a pleasing delusion. And 
strictly true is the remark of Dr. Price, that the worst 
which can happen to the christian is the best which can 
be expected by the unbeliever. On the other hand, how 
much more dignified that equal tenor of mind, that tran- 
quil and sublime satisfaction which is the result of en- 
larged and comprehensive views, and of a sober and ra- 
tional faith, than those ecstatic raptures of which some 
make their boast, which result from a fancied arbitrary 

z 



338 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XV, 



election of themselves to happiness, and the unintelligible 
imputation of another's righteousness as a substitute for 
their own, while millions are left to perish, and even 
doomed to eternal torments, for the sin of a remote an- 
cestor! One marks the fond credulity of a child; the 
other, the cultivated intellect of the man. How much to 
he desired, how pleasing to look forward to, that new and 
happy era which the word of prophecy authorizes us to 
anticipate, when all those puerile conceits, those anti- 
christian doctrines, which are the crude offspring of ages 
of ignorance and superstition, which obscure and disgrace 
the fair form of true religion, shall be dispelled as mists 
before the rising sun, and genuine uncorrupted Christiani- 
ty with its beautiful and animating ray shall enlighten 
every understanding, and enliven every heart ! 

Mr, Jefferson's answer to Dr. Priestley's letter, in- 
closing a copy of it for the President's perusal, previous 
to its publication, is given in the Notes as an interesting 
document, highly creditable to the character of that emi- 
nent person*. The original letter, with Mr. Jefferson's 
signature, is in the author's possession. 

* (To the Rev. Dr. Priestley.) 
" Dear Sir, Washington, June 19, 1802. 

tf Your favour of the 12th has heen duly received, and with that pleasure 
which the approbation of the good and the wise must ever give. The sen- 
timents it expresses are far beyond my merits or pretensions. They are pre- 
cious testimonies to me, however, that my sincere desire to do what is right 
and just is received with candour. That it should be handed to the world 
under the authority of your name is securing its credit with posterity. 

" In the great work which has been effected in America, no individual has 
a tight to take any great share to himself. Our people, in a body, are wise, 
because they are under the unrestrained and unperverted operation of their 
own understandings.' Those whom they have assigned to the direction of 
their affairs have stood with a pretty even front. If any one of them was 
withdrawn, many others, entirely equal, have been ready to fill his place with 

good abilities. A nation composed of such materials, and free in all its 
members from distressing wants, furnishes hopeful implements for the in- 
teresting experiment of self-govei,nment,andwe feel that we are acting under 
obligations not confined to the limits of our own Society. It is impossible 



CH. XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS UNDSEY. 339 



In the letter inclosing this from Mr. Jefferson, dated 
August 28, 1802, and addressed to Mr. Lindsey, Dr. 
Priestley tells his friend that he had just been very happy 
by the receipt of a letter from him, dated May 5, and ex- 
presses his great satisfaction at hearing of a scheme which 
had been formed and adopted for defraying the expense 
of printing his two great works. In noticing Mr. Jef- 
ferson's letter, he adds, " Such things as these give us a 
better idea of a mans principles and character than more 
public documents. I shall not be able to visit him as he 
wishes. Indeed the state of my health is such as warns me 



not to be sensible that we are acting for all mankind : that circumstances, 
denied to others but indulged to us, have imposed on us the duty of proving 
what is the degree of freedom and self-government in which a society may 
venture to leave its individual members. 

" One passage in the paper you inclosed me must be corrected ; it is the 
following : * And all say that it was yourself more than any other individual 
that planned and established the Constitution.' I was in Europe when the 
Constitution was planned and established, and never saw it till after it was 
established. On receiving it I wrote strongly to Mr. Madison, urging the 
want of provision for the freedom of religion, freedom of the press, trial by 
jury, habeas corpus, the substitution of militia for a standing army, and an 
express reservation to the States of all the rights not specifically granted to 
the Union. He accordingly moved, in the first session of Congress, for 
these amendments, which were agreed to and ratified by the States as they 
now stand. This is all the hand I had in what related to the Constitution. 
Our predecessors made it doubtful how far even these were of any value. For 
the very law which endangered your personal safety, the Alien Act, as well, 
as that which restrained the freedom of the press, were gross violations of 
them. However, it is still certain, that though written Constitutions maybe 
violated in moments of passion or delusion, yet they furnish a text to which 
those who are watchful may again rally, and recall the people. They fix too 
for the people principles for their practical creed. 

f* We shall all absent ourselves from this place during the sickly season, 
say, from the 22d of July to the last of September. Should your curiosity 
lead you hither either before or after that interval, I shall be very happy to 
receive you, and shall claim you as my guest. I wish the advantages of a 
mild over a winter climate had been tried for you, before you were located 
where you are. I have ever considered this as a public as well as personal 
misfortune. The choice you made of our country as your asylum, was ho- 
nourable to it ; and I lament that, for the sake of your happiness and health, 
its most benign climates were not selected. Certainly it is a truth, that cli- 
mate is one of the sources of the greatest sensual enjoyment. I received in 
due time the letter referred to in your last, with the pamphlet it inclosed, 
vrhieh I read with the pleasure I do every thing from you. Accept assurances 
el my highest veneration and respect. 

" TH05. J E FrER3 0"N." 



MO 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XV. 



that I have no time to lose ; and I am desirous of doing 
all I can in what remains of life. If well spent, longer 
or shorter, makes no difference ; but mine has been a 
long life, though not so long as yours. Whenever we die, 
we shall start together at the same time hereafter. May 
it be in the same place, and our happy connexion be re- 
sumed r 

In the next letter, dated September 25, after express- 
ing his anxiety to hear about his friend's state of health, 
Dr. Priestley adds, " It would be extreme folly for either 
of us to fiatter ourselves with the prospect of many years 
to come ; nor at our time of life is it in general desirable. 
Before this time, the business of life, whatever it has 
been, must be over, and nothing can remain but retro- 
spect; and with respect to neither of us, I trust, is this 
very painful ; though no man ever lived who might not 
have done more good in the world (and for that end we 
came into it) than he actually did. Of late, but not more 
than a fortnight, I have had a better prospect of health 
than I have had for a considerable time, having no ague 
or indisposition of any kind, and I feel nothing of the 
languor which I did for some time past, but as much ar- 
dour in my pursuits as I generally have had, though I 
find I am not capable of doing as much. I now hope, 
that with care, I may see through the printing of both 
my works, and I have hardly a wish to live longer, espe- 
cially as I shall hardly be capable of undertaking any thing 
more of much importance." 

I shall insert the next letter almost entire; not only 
because it contains Dr. Priestley's opinion of Mr. Lind- 
sey's last work, and expresses many fine sentiments con- 
cerning the wisdom and goodness of the divine govern- 
ment, but because of the strong testimony which, after a 
friendship of thirty years, the venerable writer bears to 
the excellence of Mrs. Lindsey's character, and her vi- 



CH. XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



341 



gorous and successful exertions in doing good, which can 
hardly be conceived by those who only saw that extraor- 
dinary woman in the last year or two of her active and 
useful life, when her health and faculties were in a rapid 
decline. The letter is dated October 16, 1802, and is 
addressed to Mrs. Lindsey : 

" Dear Madam, — What do I not owe to you and Mr. 
Lindsey, and at present more particularly to yourself? If 
I have been of any use in the world since my acquaint- 
ance with you, one half of it at least must be placed to 
your account. I have, I hope, endeavoured to improve 
my opportunities and means, but these have been in a 
great measure furnished by you. Without your active 
assistance I find that the works. which I have now in hand 
would hardly have been printed in my lifetime, unless I 
should live longer than I have any reason to expects, 

* Dr. Priestley here alludes to the exertions which were made by his 
friends in England, to raise a sum of money to defray the expense of printing 
his two great works. The writer of this Memoir learning, from his own and 
Mr. Lindsey's correspondence with Dr. Priestley, the difficulties which had 
occurred upon this subject, and apprehensive lest, after all, the christian 
world might be deprived of the benefit of his most valuable labours for want 
of a sufficient fund to enable him to publish the work, it occurred to him that 
if a hundred persons could be found to subscribe five pounds each for a copy 
of the whole of both the works, and to pay their subscriptions in advance, 
every difficulty would be surmounted. No sooner was the proposal made 
than it was adopted with great ardour and zeal by Dr. Priestley's numerous 
friends, and the friends of freedom of inquiry in general ; so that the sum 
wanted was very soon far exceeded, and the venerable exile's mind was made 
perfectly easy. Mrs. Lindsey exerted her usual energies in the cause, and 
his friends at Birmingham and Hackney were not deficient ; and among these 
no one was more indefatigable or successful than Benjamin Travers, Esq. 
then resident at Clapton. The list of subscribers was numerous and respect- 
able. The Duke of Grafton, with his accustomed liberality, subscribed fifty 
pounds, and his noble friend Lord Clarendon twenty, Mr. Lindsey twenty, 
and Robert Slaney, Esq, of Tong Lodge, the generous friend of all that is 
liberal and good, thirty guineas, with a promise of more, if more should be 
wanted. And now that he is at rest beyond the reach of envy and of calum- 
ny, from which neither exalted station nor exalted merit could have protect- 
ed him here, it may be permitted to mention, that by far the most liberal 
subscriber to this object was the late Right Reverend Dr. John Law, bishop 
of Eiphin, one of the numerous able and prosperous family of the late learn- 
ed and liberal prelate of Carlisle, and brother to the late Lord Chief Justice 



342 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XV. 



Dr. Doddridge used to say, he was confident there would 
be more women in heaven than men ; and certainly you 
excell in the milder, and, what are more peculiarly call- 
ed, the christian virtues of palience, meekness, sympa- 
thy, and kindness ; and I think that the history of per- 
secutions proves you have your full share of the more he- 
roic virtues, and have shown as much true courage as 
men. When I reflect, as I often do, on the character of 
my good aunt, that of Mrs. Rayner, and to those let me 
add yours, I do not think that I can find many of my ac- 
quaintances to compare with them among men : and yet 
I have known many of great excellence. Of these, the 
foremost in my list are Dr. Price, Mr. Tayleur of Shrews- 
bury, and Mr. Lindsey. Those in a lower class, how- 
ever, are numerous ; and I doubt not but that hereafter 
we shall find there has always been more virtue than vice 
in the world, and that the vice has had its use in pro- 
ducing virtue. The more I contemplate the great sy- 

of England, and to the Bishop of Chester. An extract from the Bishop of 
Elphin's interesting letter shall close this note. It is addressed to Mr. 
Lindsey, who had sent him a copy of his last publication, dated Elphin, Octo- 
ber 7, 1802. 

" My dear sir, — Want of health, and indisposition, have prevented me 
from thanking you for your letter and obliging present sooner. I have read 
your valuable work with as much attention as pains in the head and stomach, 
arising from a flying gout, would let me ; and think it is calculated to do a 
great deal of good. 

" Inclosed is a draft for one hundred pounds, which you will apply in aid 
of Dr. Priestley's publication, in any way he chooses ; but my name must on 
no account be mentioned to him, or any one else, as it would involve me 
with some acquaintance here, and do me more mischief than you can imagine, 
and which I am sure you would not wish. Our religion hereabouts is evi- 
denced chiefly in hating and abusing those that differ from us ; and except- 
ing this zeal we scarce show in other things that we have any. You will 
be surprised at it, but neither Popery nor Methodism are losing any ground. 

" Reprint my father's Life of Christ whenever you please, and believe me 
to be, with the sincerest esteem, 

" Your very faithful and obedient servant, 

" J. Elphin." 

Mr. Lindsey availed himself of the bishop's permission to reprint the Life 
of Christ, and this small but valuable tract is now upon the catalogue of 
books circulated by the Unitarian Society. 



CH. XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 343 

stem, the more satisfaction I find in it: and the structure 
being so perfect, there cannot be a doubt but that the end 
and use of it in promoting happiness will correspond to 
it. These views, as I take more pleasure than ever in 
Natural History, contribute much to brighten the even- 
ing of my days. But my great resource is the Scrip- 
tures, which I have not of a long time passed a single 
day without reading a portion of, and I am more inter- 
ested in it continually. I seem now to see it with other 
eyes, and all other reading is comparatively insipid. 

" But I shall tire you with my moralizing. You are 
very kind to interest yourself about my health. On this 
day se'nnight I wrote to Dr. Disney, and told him I was 
much recruited. But this week I have relapsed again, 
but without fever. The least thing disorders my power 
of digestion : and when I have any thing amiss there, it 
is a long time before I get right again. At present, a 
long continued indigestion seems to have affected the li- 
ver. I feel in several respects as I did when I was sub- 
ject to the gall-stones ; and being further advanced in 
life, I am less able to struggle with disease of any kind. 
My flesh and muscular strength are greatly impaired. I 
hope, however, that with care I may live to print the two 
works, and then my mind will be entirely at ease. What- 
ever may be thought of them, I have spared no pains to 
make them as perfect as I could, and both the works are 
of a kind that I am sure are much wanted. 

" I find by Mr. Lindsey that my Tract on Baptism is 
arrived : and his two words of approbation are a sufficient 
reward for my labour. I hope he will live to see what I 
am now printing, as the History will probably be printed 
before the winter be out, and another year will be suffi- 
cient for the Notes on the Scriptures. I no more expect 
fame than I do profit from either of these works, but nei- 
ther of them is any object with me at present. I have 



344 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XV. 



had enough of every thing that this world can give me, 
and consider my lot as having heen a singulai'ly happy 
one. But I flatter myself that my writings, which are 
overlooked at present, will be found useful some time 
hence. 

" Mr. Lindsey's last work I read with peculiar satis- 
faction ; it is excellently adapted to gain its object^ and 
discovers a happy and most desirable state of mind, with 
which to take leave of the world : praising the great and 
benevolent Author of it, and looking forward to the same 
excellent disposition of things hereafter. 

" Give my best respects to the ladies at Morden. I 
shall never forget their excellent characters, or their kind- 
ness to myself. Remember me also to Dr. Blackburne*. 
I often wish I was under his care. 

u Yours and Mr. Lindsey's most affectionately, 

" J. Priestley." 

Many letters of thanks and testimonies of approbation 
were sent to Mr. Lindsey upon the publication of his last 
excellent work : of these I shall take the liberty of insert- 
ing an extract from one by the Rev. Christopher Wyvill, 
of Burton Hall, near Bedale in Yorkshire, a name that 
will be ever dear to the friends of civil and religious li- 
berty, the celebrated Chairman of the Yorkshire Asso- 
ciation tor the Reform of the Commons House of Par- 
liament, and who is terminating his long career of pa- 
triotic exertion by a series of vigorous and benevolent ef- 
forts in the cause of universal religious liberty, to which 
few would be equal even in the meridian of life. Nor is 
it to be despaired of, considering the changes which have 
lately taken place in the political world, that the veteran 
champion of the rights of conscience may live to see the 
complete success of his generous exertions, at a time 



* An eminent physician in London ; the -Archdeacon's youngest bun, and 
half-brother to Mrs. Lindsey, now resident near Weils, in Somersetshire; 



CH. XV. j REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 345 

when success was the least expected. In a letter dated 
from Burton Hall, March 31, 1802, he thus addresses 
his aged friend, whose views and principles upon almost 
every subject were congenial with his own : 

" My dear Sir, — Last night I finished the perusal of 
your Conversations on the Divine Benevolence, and other 
subjects connected with it, and I hasten to return you my 
cordial thanks for the pleasure and benefit I have derived 
from it. I think your last work, if it is to be your last 
work, closes your labours with great honour to yourself 
and utility to the world, by presenting such an amiable 
picture of religion, as must, one would hope, win the af- 
fections of many who are at present disinclined. I saw 
nothing in which I could not agree with you ; as I have 
long been accustomed, like yourself, to consider the good- 
ness of God as the true foundation of religion. It is the 
principle of St. John; for God, he says, is love. It is the 
principle of our Lord ; for God so loved the world that he 
gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 
him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For 
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the 
world, but that the world through him might be saved. 
That is the gracious design of Providence we see : and 
what Providence designs, as you justly argue in your book, 
must come to pass. On this principle, therefore, of Di- 
vine love, I have raised a structure nearly similar to that 
which you have built upon the same ground. I have 
found it the consolation of my mind, and it will be still 
more so from having read what you have so well drawn 
together to illustrate that- Great Truth. I will only add, 
that the temper of your mind in the whole course of your 
composition well accords with the amiable principle you 
are recommending." 

In the beginning of the year 1804, Mr. Lmdsey lost 
his admired and beloved friend and correspondent Dr, 



346 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XV. 

Priestley ; an event which he felt as deeply as any cala- 
mity which could have happened to him in his declining 
state of health and vigour, but the tidings of which he 
bore, as has been already observed, with the christian 
fortitude and resignation of one who was hastening apace 
to the same quiet and undisturbed abode, and who hoped 
for a speedy and happy reunion in a better state, and in 
more auspicious circumstances. 

Two events occurred after the decease of Dr. Priestley, 
which, from the light in which they were viewed by the 
venerable patriarch, contributed greatly to cheer and en- 
liven his closing day. 

The first was the very lively interest which he took in 
the appointment of the writer of this Memoir to be the 
officiating minister at the Chapel in Essex-street, in 
succession to Dr. Disney, whose infirm state of health 
obliged him to resign his charge in the spring of 1805. 
This event, the idea of which first occurred to Mr. Lind- 
sey, and to the accomplishment of which both he and 
Mrs. Lindsey contributed their utmost and united ef\ 
forts, seemed for a time at least to infuse fresh vigour 
into his debilitated frame ; and upon this occasion 
he resumed his seat in the chapel, from which he had 
for some time withdrawn on account of his declining 
health. This attendance upon public worship Mr. Lind- 
sey continued with exemplary regularity for upwards 
of two years and a half : he often expressed himself as 
particularly gratified with the attendance of the young 
persons upon those Lectures on the evidences and doc- 
trines of revealed religion, which were introduced by the 
preacher after the morning service ; and he augured the 
best consequences to the interests of truth and goodness 
from that spirit of inquiry which discovered itself in the 
rising generation. May those favourable prognostications 
be happily verified in the e ent ! After the first Sunday 



CH. XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



347 



in November 1807, Mr. Lindsey's feeble state of health 
and his growing infirmities compelled him finally, but 
reluctantly, to withdraw from the chapel worship. 

The other event alluded to was the publication of the 
Improved Version of the New Testament by the Unita- 
rian Society, of which it will be proper to give a brief 
account. 

In the spring of the year 1789, Dr. Priestley, whose 
active and benevolent mind was always engaged in some 
scheme for the instruction and improvement of mankind, 
formed a project, which he communicated to Mr. Lind- 
sey, for a continually improving translation of the Scrip- 
tures of the Old and New Testament. This plan was 
matured at the annual interview which he had with his 
friend in the month of April ; and it was determined im- 
mediately to engage a competent number of coadjutors, 
and to complete the work within the year. The general 
idea was, that the whole Scripture should be distributed 
among a certain number of translators; that the trans- 
lators should adhere to certain rules which were laid down 
for the purpose ; the principal of which was, not to de- 
viate from the public version without an evident neces- 
sity ; and superintendants were appointed to revise and 
correct the translation previously to its being sent to the 
press*. Dr. Priestley undertook to translate the Hagio- 

* The following is the Plan, accompanied with the Rules of translating, 
which was printed, and circulated among those whose assistance was soli- 
cited, or to whom it was thought expedient to communicate the design : 

A Plan to procure a continually improving Translation of the Scriptures. 

I. Let three persons, of similar principles and views, procure the assist- 
ance of a number of their learned friends, and let each of them undertake 
the translation of a portion of the whole Bible, engaging to produce it in 
the space of a year. 

II. Let each of the translations be carefully perused by some other person 
than the translator himself ; and especially let each of the three principals 
peruse the whole, and communicate their remarks to the translators. 



348 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[fH. XV. 



grajpha, and engaged the writer of this Memoir to assist 
him in the book of Job. Mr. Frend., whose abilities and 
learning are well known, and who had lately seceded from 
the established church, and resigned all his well-founded 
hopes of preferment in it for the sake of truth and a good 
conscience, undertook to translate the Pentateuch, or the 
historical books. Mr. Dodson was applied to for trans- 
lating the prophetical writings ; but that gentleman not 

III. Let the three principals have the power of making what alterations 
they please ; hut if the proper translator prefer his own version, let the 
three principals, when they print the work, insert his version in the notes or 
margin, distinguished by his signature. 

IV. If any one of the three differ in opinion from the other two, let his 
version be also annexed with his signature. 

V. Let the whole be printed in one volume without any notes, except as 
few as possible relating to the version, or the phraseology. 

VI. Letthe translators, and especially the three principals, give constant at- 
tention to all. other new translations of the Scriptures, and all other sources 
of information, that they may avail themselves of them in all subsequent edi- 
tions, so that this version may always be in a state of improvement. 

VII. Let the three principals agree upon certain rules of translating, to be 
observed by all the rest. 

VIII. On the death of any of the three principals, let the survivors make 
choice of another to supply his place. 

IX. Let all the profits of the publication be disposed of by the three prin- 
cipals to some public institution in England, or any other part of the world, 
or in any other manner that they shall think most subservient to the causes 
of truth. 



RULES OF TRANSLATING. 

I. Let the translators insert in the text whatever they think it was most 
probable that the authors really wrote, if it has the authority of any ancient 
version or MS. ; but if it differ from the present Hebrew or Greek copies, let 
the version of the present copies be inserted in the margin. 

II. If the translators give the preference to any emendation of the text 
not airthorized by any. MS. or ancient version, let such conjectural emenda- 
tion be inserted in the margin only. 

III. Let the additions in the Samaritan copy of the Pentateuch be inserted 
in the text, but distinguished from the rest. 

IV. Let not the present English version be changed, except for the sake 
of some improvement. 

V. In the Old Testament, let the word Jehovah be rendered by Jehovah, 
and also the word *veih in the New, in passages in which there is an allusion 
to the Old, or where it may be proper to distinguish God from Christ. 

VI. Let the present division of chapters be adhered to with as little va- 
riation as possible, and the whole be divided into paragraphs, not exceeding 
about twenty of the present verses ; but let ail the present divisions of chap- 
ters and verses be noted in the margin. 

VII. To each chapter let there be prefixed a summary of the contents^ 
as in the common version. 



CH. XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS EINDSEY. 349 

having leisure sufficient, Dr. Priestley undertook the 
whole. Mr. Garnham, a learned, liheral, and respectable 
clergyman at Bury St. Edmonds in. Suffolk, engaged for 
and executed, the translation of the whole NewTestament. 
Mr. Lindsey and Mr. Dodson were to revise the work. 
The task, however, was found to be too great even for 
Dr. Priestley's energies to accomplish within the year ; 
and it having been postponed till the summer of 1791, 
the riots of Birmingham unfortunately intervened, and 
the ruffians who broke into Dr. Priestley's house, among 
other valuable papers, demolished his translation of the 
New Testament, and in their demoniac fury they left not 
a wreck behind ** 

This disastrous event put an entire termination to the 
promising project of a new and continually improving 
translation. But the design was never lost sight of for 
a moment ; and when the Unitarian Society was institu- 
ted in 1/91, and especially after the destruction of Dr. 
Priestley's manuscripts, the translation of the Scriptures, 
and particularly of the New Testament, was a main ob- 
ject of their attention. 

With this view, application was first made by a depu- 
tation from the Society, consisting of Mr. Lindsey, Mr. 
Dodson, and the writer of this Memoir, to the late cele- 
brated and learned Gilbert Wakefield for leave to intro- 
duce his valuable translation into the Society's Cata- 
logue : to which request Mr. Wakefield not only gave 
his cordial consent, but promised to revise his transla- 
tion with the utmost care, and to render it as perfect as 

* For a complete account of the irreparable loss which the theological, 
the philosophical, and the learned world sustained from this unparalleled 
outrage, see Dr. Priestley's Appeal to the Public on the Pilots in Birming- 
ham, p. 36. Of these losses, if the writer of this Memoir may presume to 
judge, the greatest and the most irreparable is a manuscript volume con- 
taining Illustrations of Hartley's Doctrine of the Association of Ideas, and 
further Observations on the Human Mind. No one ever understood Dr. 
Hartley's .Theory better than Dr. Priestley, and no writer ever exceeded him 
in simplicity and clearness of exposition, or in appositeness of illustration. 



350 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATB 



[CH. XV. 



he was able for the Society's use. In this generous pur- 
pose he was defeated by the contract which he had made 
with his bookseller, who had not then disposed of all 
the copies of the second edition. Afterwards, the Uni- 
tarian Society in the West of England formed a project 
for a new translation of the New Testament, which was 
soon abandoned in consequence of the sudden and un- 
expected decease of the Reverend Timothy Kenrick, who 
took the lead in that and every other scheme for promo- 
ting learning, truth, and genuine Christianity in prin- 
ciple and practice in that district of the united king- 
dom. 

Here the matter rested till the General Meeting of 
the London Unitarian Society in April 1806, when it 
was unanimously resolved, that this important under- 
taking should be no longer deferred ; and a committee, 
consisting of all the ministers who were members of the 
Society, and of a certain proportion of lay gentlemen, 
was nominated to carry the resolution into effect. It 
was also unanimously agreed, that instead of a transla- 
tion entirely new, some respectable Version already in 
existence should be adopted as the basis of the new pub- 
lication, into which might be inserted the alterations 
which were judged necessary. The principal reasons 
for this decision were, that a new translation would re- 
quire a considerable length of time ; that few persons 
had leisure sufficient for the purpose, or were willing to 
incur the responsibility ; and that such a version, how- 
ever impartially conducted, would be exposed to the vul- 
gar cavil of an intentional warping of the Scripture to 
support an unscriptural hypothesis. 

As Mr. Wakefield's Version could not be obtained, 
Archbishop Newcomers Translation was selected with 
the full consent of the late Mr. Johnson, to whom it 
was understood that the copy-right belonged. And the 



CH. XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 351 

reasons for selecting this Version were, that, though not 
faultless, it was in the main excellent ; that the style in 
general was simple and unaffected ; that the translation 
was fair and impartial ; that it rectified many errors in 
the public Version ; but chiefly, because the learned 
prelate had, in his translation, followed the corrected 
text of Griesbach. And though it was taken from Gries- 
bach's first edition, the variations in the second, though 
numerous, are in general very inconsiderable; that learn- 
ed and laborious critic having himself remarked, that 
his later inquiries had in general served only to confirm 
the critical principles and to justify the variations which 
he had introduced into the first edition. Another in- 
ducement for adopting the Primate's Version was, that 
it was out of print, without the least probability of its 
ever being printed again*. In order to preserve the uni- 
formity of style, it was resolved that no alterations should 
be made in the Primate's language but those which were 
judged to be absolutely necessary. And, to preclude 
eveiy possibility of misleading the reader, wherever it 
was thought proper to give a different translation of any 
passage, or to deviate even in a single expression from 
the Primate's text, his own words, with the initials of his 
name, were required to be set down at the foot of the 
page. So that the editors of the Improved Version, far 
from desiring to cast a slur upon the Primate's or- 
thodoxy, or to avail themselves improperly and disho- 
nourably of his truly respectable name, to give currency 
to opinions contrary to his avowed sentiments, really 

*It 5s very well known that the Translation was printed while the Primate 
was living, but that it was withheld from the public at the request, and by 
the influence, of some in high station, who thought it not expedient for an 
Archbishop to let the public into the secret, that the common Version is ca- 
pable of improvement, and that the received text, formed by the meritorious 
but not infallible labours of Erasmus, Stephens, Beza, and Elzevir, is not 
inspired. Unfortunately, the impression of the Primate's Works was much 
damaged in crossing the water, in consequence of being carelessly packed. 
So that the copies which were left for sale were comparatively very few. 



352 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XV. 



considered themselves as entitled to thanks for having 
rescued a meritorious work from oblivion, and having 
given a wider extent to its circulation ; and they consci- 
entiously believed that the pious and venerable prelate 
himself, had he been living, would not have condemned 
the liberty which they have taken with it*. 

It was an object of primary consideration with the So- 
ciety, that the Version published under their sanction 
should contain Notes explanatory of those passages which 
are commonly understood as giving the greatest counte- 
nance to popular errors, and especially of those which 
bear upon the Unitarian controversy. And it was judged 
expedient that these Notes should commonly be extract- 
ed from the works of authors who are esteemed by Uni- 
tarians as the most judicious expositors of the Scriptures, 
and, as far as might be, should be expressed in their 

* The only person, exceptingthe possessor of the copy-right, who had aright 
to be offended at the liberty taken by the editors in adopting the Primate's 
Version as the basis of their own, was Dr. Stock, the late venerable Bishop of 
Kiliala, and afterwards" of \Vaterford, who published an interesting account 
of the invasion of Ireland by the French, who seized the episcopal palace at 
Kiliala, and made it their head quarters, detaining the Bishop and his family 
prisoners. This worthy and learned prelate also distinguished himself by 
Ids new Version of the books of Job and Isaiah ; and being a near relative 
by affinity of the venerable Primate, he may be regarded as the proper guar- 
dian of his reputation. From this learned and respectable prelate the author 
of this Memoir received the following raiid and polite expostulation, very 
different from the gross language in which the Improved Version is com- 
monly attacked . . 

"Reverend Sir, Bath, Aug. 7, 1809. 

" I shall with pleasure avail myself, when occasion offers, of yoxiv kind 
invitation to call on you at Hackney. I may then, perhaps, be allowed to 
expostulate with you, not on the religious opinions you maintain, for these 
I leave to every man's own conscience, but on the covert, I had almost said, 
the unfair manner in which your Society have endeavoured, by the means of 
the New Translation, to instill those opinions into the minds of the common 
people. Two things I msdnly object to you ; the name your Society has as- 
sumed, which is calculated to deceive by its resemblance in sound to that of 
another and more ancient Society in London, whose labours have been con- 
fined to the spreading of Gospel truths without any mixture of opinions dis- 
puted among christians. And, secondly, your adopting through the great- 
er part of your work the Version of Archbishop Newcome, while, by al- 
terations of your own, and by your comments, you endeavour to lead tire 
reader into opinions which that respected Father of our church entertained no 
more than I do. It is true you have sought to obviate this charge, by mark- 



CH. XV.] REVEREND TIIEOPIIILUS LINDSEY. 



353 



own words ; and, at any rate, without any asperity of 
censure upon Christians of different sentiments who in- 
terpret the Scriptures in a different manner. By the 
introduction of these Notes, in which brevity was to be 
consulted as far as was consistent with perspicuity, it 
was intended that Unitarian Christians who might be in 
possession of the Improved Version, might at all times 
be able to recur to the most approved interpretations of 
difficult and disputed texts, especially those which are of 
the greatest importance for establishing the doctrine of 
the Unity and unrivalled supremacy of God, and of the 
proper humanity of Jesus Christ ; and others who wish- 
ed to know what the real sentiments of the Unitarians 
are, and how they explain those texts which are com- 
monly understood as contradicting their opinions, might 
gain the information which they desire. 

It was determined to publish two large editions at 

ing in your Notes the difference between your interpretation and our Pri- 
mate's : but common readers will not be ready to advert to such distinctions; 
neither can the friends to Primate Newcome's reputation be pleased to see 
his name coupled, as it was sometimes most untruly in his lifetime, with those 
of the Unitarians and Socinians. I have the honour to be, with respect, Re- 
verend Sir, your most obedient humble servant, <f Joseph Killala." 

The author of this Memoir wrote an answer to the venerable and liberal 
prelate, which, he trusts, satisfied his Lordship that the editors, even if they 
erred in their judgement, intended nothing disingenuous or unfair. He hoped 
to have had an opportunity by personal intercourse to have elfaced every 
remaining unfavourable impression. But his Lordship's infirm health, and 
his professional avocations, did not admit of his return to the metropolis. 

The reader will judge how far the Bartlett's Buildings Society, who do 
not venture to circulate the Bible itself but in connexion with the Common 
Prayer Book, are entitled to the worthy Prelate's encomium, of "confining 
themselves to spreading gospel truths without any mixture of disputed opi- 
nions." And as to the rumour that the late learned Primate favoured the 
Unitarian principles, it is acertainfactthatthePrimate'sownbrother, who was 
a worthy tradesman in London, not perhaps deeply versed in theological lore, 
did assure Dr. Priestley that his brother's opinions coincided with Dr. Priest- 
ley's, and that he had heard the Primate say it. The Primate's Works, and 
Dr. Stock's testimony, prove that this respectable gentleman was mistaken. 
Perhaps, however, the learned Primate, who was certainly a profound theo- 
logian, and mighty in the Scriptures, might satisfy his mind, as Mr. Llnd- 
f ey once did, with Dr. Wallis's hypothesis, sanctioned by the University of 
Oxford, that the three names in the Trinity, of Father, Son, and Holy Spi- 
rit, were nothing more than three different titles of the same individual per- 
son ; like the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the Cod of Jacob ; 
which is, in fact, the purest Unitarianism. 

? A 



354 



MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 



[CH. XV; 



the same time ; one in royal octavo, the other for com- 
mon use in royal duodecimo. And as some expressed 
a wish for the Version without the explanatory Notes, a 
numerous edition in a smaller form was printed for their 
satisfaction. It was also resolved, that a subscription 
should be opened to defray the expense of the undertak- 
ing, and that the money should be paid in advance ; that 
the Committee, who were appointed to superintend the 
publication, might be in possession of ready money to 
enable them to go to the best market. 

This plan of an Improved Version with explanatory 
Notes was adopted by the Unitarians and their friends 
with the greatest ardour. The subscription was filled ra- 
pidly. The venerable patriarch, who is the subject of 
this Memoir, delighted and grateful to divine Providence 
that he had lived to see the accomplishment of the fer- 
vent and favourite wish of his heart, approving most 
heartily, in concurrence with his intelligent and zealous 
consort, of every part of the plan* was eager to open the 
subscription with a liberal donation of fifty pounds ; the 
Duke of Grafton gave fifty guineas, and a second dona- 
tion of fifty pounds. Samuel Prime, Esq. in whom 
every scheme for the improvement and happiness of 
mankind found an enlightened and munificent patron, 
gave fifty guineas to the first and twenty to the second 
subscription*. The example of liberality set by these 

* The laudable example of William Smith, Esq. (whose manly, indepen- 
dent, and persevering exertions in the cause of civil and religious liberty, in 
that honourable house of which he is now a veteran member, are universally 
acknowledged and admired,) ought not to be passed over in silence ; who, in 
addition to his own liberal subscription to the Improved Version, purchased 
a considerable number of copies, which he sent down to the tutors of the col- 
leges at York and Wymondely, to be distributed as presents among the candi- 
dates for the ministry in those respectable institutions 5 to which copies were 
prefixed the following judicious remarks : 

" Search the Scriptures ; for in them ye think that ye have everlasting life ; 

ancl they bear witness of me." 
It havingbeenthoMght expedient to attempt an Improved Version of the New 
Testament, for the reason stated in the Introduction to the following work, 



CH. XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



355 



eminent characters was followed by many others equally 
willing, if not equally able to contribute ; and in a short 
time the sum requisite for the commencement of the un- 
dertaking was raised, and the press was not delayed for an 
hour by the want of necessary funds. In two years the work 
was complete; and the several parts, as they were printed, 
were placed in Mr. Lindsey's hands, who was pleased to 
express his high approbation both of the plan and of the 
execution ; and it may truly be said, that the perusal of 
the Improved Version, reading it himself or hearing it 
read by others, constituted the principal part of Mr, 
Lindsey's enjoyment during the remainder of his life. 

Of a work in which many are so deeply interested, 
and of which every one thinks himself competent to 
judge, it is impossible that there should not be a great 

this copy of it is presented to the student, not with any view or wish unduly 
to influence his opinion by authority, or to entrap him by the charm of no- 
velty into any change ; but merely to afford him additional motives and fa- 
cilities for the careful and anxious study of the Sacred writings. — This, in 
proportion to his opportunities, is allowed to be the duty of every Christian; 
but more especially of those dedicated to the ministry, who, before they 
commence teachers of others, should themselves be diligent to learn • and 
should resolve not to rest satisfied with any system which, from education, 
connection, example, or authority, may have been their early creed, unless by 
serious, and, as far is permitted to human frailty, impartial inquiry, they shall 
have acquired for themselves a conviction of its truth. 

The writer of this notice may be supposed himself to have settled opi- 
nions ; but he has ever been adverse to the practice, too prevalent among 
all sects, of usurping to themselves epithets, in their very terms decisive of 
all controversy. Who but the infallible shall presume to arrogate to himself 
alone the title of orthodox or evangelical ? — who, duly conscious of the 
weakness of his reason and the strength of his prejudices, shall claim to be 
^exclusively rational and liberal ? — The question still remains, as in our Sa- 
viour's time, "What is the truth?" i. e. the ti-ue doctrine of the Gospel. 
That which is not such cannot be either orthodox or evangelical. Nor is it pos- 
sible that this truth of God as it is in Jesus, when ascertained, should not be 
found sufficiently rational and liberal for his creature man : — rational,— for, 
""He that giveth understanding, shall not he know?" — and liberal,- — (if in- 
deed in such a connection the word be at all allowable) for it is of the essence 
of that truth to "make us free," — free from error- — free from prejudice — 
free from uncharitabieness. — While then to the Gospel all Christians equally 
appeal, it is surely equally incumbent on all to scrutinize its contents, with 
patience and reverence indeed, but without that servile fear which, as.it pa- 
ralyses man's intellect, can surely never be pleasing to God who gave it, 
commanding us therewith to "search the Scriptures" "that vre mav know 
Him and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.'' 

2 a 2 



356 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XV. 



diversity of opinion, both as to the design and execution. 
Accordingly, when the Improved Version made its ap- 
pearance, it soon became an object of rigid criticism and 
severe animadversion. 

The <€ Title" was objected to as arrogant and assum- 
ing. The editors, however, are not conscious of being 
influenced by an improper spirit. They called it an Im- 
proved Version, because they regarded Archbishop New- 
come's translation as a very great improvement upon the 
public Version, and they conceived their own alterations 
to be an improvement upon the Version of the learned 
prelate. Nor did they see that there was greater arro- 
gance in calling their work, or rather, that of the Primate, 
an Improved Version, than in calling Dr. Clarke's Litur- 
gy, a Reformed Liturgy, or the Protestant Church, a Re- 
formed Church. 

The editors are also blamed for stating that their Ver- 
sion is "upon the basis of Archbishop Newcome's," as 
though they intended to impose upon their readers, and 
to make the Archbishop responsible for their opinions. 
But the reasons which induced them to adopt the learned 
Primate's Version have been assigned already : and not 
to have acknowledged the obligation, would have justly 
exposed them to the charge of fraud and plagiarism. — 
That they intended to shelter their own peculiar opinions 
under the authority of the Primate's name, cannot be be- 
lieved for a moment by any person of common under- 
standing who reads beyond the title page*. 

It has even been surmised, that the editors, professing 
that the Improved Version is " published by a Society 

*The enemies of the Improved Version may well be angry with the editor? 
for having assumed the Archbishop's Translation as the basis of their own-, 
for it has been the means of leading unwary critics into some egregious mis- 
takes. Grievous have been the wounds which the unfortunate Primate has 
received from the hands of his undiscerning friends through the sides of his 
heretical editors. One accomplished critic wonders, forsooth, that a Uni- 
tauan. Version should not be more elegant and classical : not adverting to 



Cm XV. J REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 357 

for promoting christian knowledge and the practice of vir- 
tue by the distribution of books," intended to insinuate, 
that they published under the patronage of the Society 
at Bartlett's Buildings for distributing Bibles and Com- 
mon Prayer Books. But the venerable Society may rest 
assured that it was an object the most remote from the 
thoughts of the editors to take shelter under their fos- 
tering wing, They did not even know that the title of 
the Society, under whose direction they acted, so nearly 
accorded with that of any other Society. In fact, they 
thought it needless to insert the word Unitarian in the 
title page, which would deter some ignorant and preju- 
diced people from looking into a work from which they 
might otherwise derive instruction. The learned and the 
honest Whitby did not think it necessary to write Armi- 
nian in his title page; nor Guyse, nor Doddridge, Cal- 
vinist in theirs ; but each of those pious and laborious ex- 
positors explained the sacred text to the best of his own 
judgement: so do the editors of the Improved Version, 

It has been alleged as a great offence, that these edi- 
tors have <e given up the authenticity of the prefaces of 
Matthew and Luke." But they have assigned their rea- 
sons for this conclusion, and let their adversaries refute 
them if they can. 

It is further objected, that " they appeal to Lardner as 
favourable to their hypothesis," though he decides directly 
against them. But all which they appeal to Lardner for, 
is, to prove, which he has done most abundantly, that 
Herod died at least seventeen years before Augustus ; but 

the fact that the Version, in the main, is not theirs, hut the Primate's. An- 
other learned and sagacious opponent cites the Archbishop's own words, as 
a proof how the Unitarians pervert the Scriptures to support their own un- 
scriptural tenets. Some future opportunity may perhaps be taken to ani- 
madvert upon these and other misrepresentations. In the mean time it may 
be sufficient to remark, that these pitiable and ludicrous blunders cannot fail 
forcibly to remind the reader of the wisdom of those discriminating judges 
in the fable, who hissed the pig itself. 



358 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XV. 

Luke himself informs us, that Jesus was but lately turned 
of thirty in the fifteenth year of Tiberius* : and conse- 
quently he must have been born two years after Herod's 
death. And as to the idle fiction of the double date of 
Tiberius's reign, it is well known to all who are conversant 
with Roman history* that this is a distinction which ne- 
ver existed till the time of the Lower Empire. 

It is further charged upon these daring editors, that 
they have presumed to "print the suspected chapters in a 
different type." Had they, indeed, left out a passage that 
is found in all manuscripts which, are now extant, how- 
ever suspicious in itself, there might have been some rea- 
son for charging them with indiscretion. But it was their 
nxed rule not to remove from the text any passage which 
Was supported by the consent of manuscripts, however 
doubtful upon other grounds, and whatever proof there 
might be of its omission in copies of greater antiquity. 
But being convinced by the evidence alleged that these 
chapters are a palpable forgery, they considered them- 
selves as fully justified in fixing the mark of reprobatioa 
upon them, though they would not wholly omit them. 

Some have objected to the introduction of any 66 theo- 
logical Notes" whatever, as savouring too much of a sec- 
tarian spirit, and of dogmatism. But it has been already 
observed, that the main object of the Society in publish- 
ing the Improved Version, was to represent what they 
believed to be the genuine sense of the sacred writings, 
and to guard against popular delusions. And of course 
the editors, being from inquiry and conviction Unitarians, 
would interpret the text in the Unitarian sense. And 
what should hinder them from doing so ? It is a practice 
in use among all parties, and laudably so. Had they, in- 
deed, distorted the Scriptures, or forged texts to support 



* See Grotius in Luc. iii. 23. 



CM* XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 359 

their doctrines, they would have been justly liable to cen- 
sure ; but of this they are either not accused, or not con- 
victed. 

The editors of the Improved Version are further ac- 
cused of not having "strictly adhered to Griesbach's text, 
and of not adopting all the improvements of his second 
edition." But every one who is acquainted with Gries- 
bach knows that more than nine tenths of his various 
readings are of the most trivial kind, and make not the 
least alteration in the sense. Bat to have introduced 
every trifling variation into the text, and to have support- 
ed it by notes and references in the margin, would have 
wasted much time ; would have answered no one valuable 
end ; and would either have swelled the work to too large 
a size, or would have occupied the space of more useful 
exegetical Notes. The design of the editors was to in- 
troduce the variations of Griesbach's interior margin : 
and if they have omitted even one which would make p, 
difference in the sense of the text, it was on their part 
wholly unintentional, and they will feel obliged to any 
friendly critic who will point out the error that it may 
be corrected in succeeding editions, As to various read- 
ings by which the sense is not affected, a very minute 
attention to these was not within the scope of their de- 
sign. Yet they do not deny that where gentlemen have 
leisure and inclination to undertake the task, a transla- 
tion including all Griesbach's preferable readings, sup- 
ported by his authorities^ would be a gratification to the 
curious * f 

The exertions, however feeble, which Mr. Lindsey 
made in concurrence with the more active energies of 



* In the. fourth edition of the Improved Version a very minute attention 
has been paid to ail the various readings of Griesbach's second edition, by 
the late reverend and much to be lamented T. B. Broadbenf. 



otH) MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [CH. XV. 

Mrs. Lindsey to encourage the progress and to extend 
the circulation of the Improved Version, may be regarded 
as the last public act of Mr. Lindsey's life ; as the peru- 
sal of that work, when it was complete, was his last and 
greatest delight. To its composition it was too late for 
him personally to contribute. But to his valuable writ- 
ings and comments upon the Scriptures, the Notes of 
the Improved Version are deeply indebted. And to the 
aged saint it was an exquisite gratification to see, that 
though he was now about to obtain his dismission from 
the. world, his writings, and particularly his accurate and 
learned observations upon the Scriptures, would continue 
to support christian truth after he was gone. This bright 
star, which had so long diffused its mild and benignant 
influence, was now rapidly hastening to its horizon. Mr. 
Lindsey's strength declined apace, and his infirmities vi- 
sibly increased. But though at times he suffered much ; 
yet through the constant attention and great professional; 
skill of Dr. Blackburne, (who had thoroughly studied his 5 
case, and who watched and prescribed for his revered re- 
lative with filial solicitude,) and by the tender, judicious,, 
and unwearied care of Mrs. Lindsey, his sufferings were 
greatly mitigated, so that he continued upon the whole 
in a comfortable state ; and to the last week of his life he 
enjoyed the company of his friends, though he was not 
able to support much conversation with them. Mr. Lind- 
sey's strength declined so fast through the summer of 
1808, as to allow little hope that he would be able to 
struggle through the severity of the winter. But no sym- 
ptom of immediate danger appeared till the latter end of 
October, when he was attacked with a complaint which 
was judged to be a pressure upon the brain : and though 
the disorder appeared to yield in part to the usual appli- 
cations, it was nevertheless attended with a very consider- 
able degree of fever, which made it necessary for him to 



CH. XV.] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LINDSEY. 



361 



take to his bed on Thursday the twenty- seventh. The 
fever now increased rapidly, and it soon became evident 
how it would terminate. After Monday he lay in a state 
approaching to stupor and insensibility; he took little no- 
tice of any thing, and spoke little or nothing. Thus he 
was prevented from bearing that testimony to the truth 
and power of christian principles in his last hours, which 
his friend Dr. Priestley had done, arid which Mr. Lindsey 
himself, notwithstanding his great natural reserve* and 
his abhorrence of a loquacious and ostentatious piety, 
would no doubt have been glad to do. It is however 
said, that some of the last rational expressions which he 
was heard to utter, were, " God's will is best f but whe- 
ther he spoke these words or not, we are sure that the 
principle was uppermost in his thoughts as long as reason, 
and thought remained ; for a mind more resigned and 
more devoted to the will of God, more desirous and dis- 
posed to sacrifice all its fondest wishes and views to the 
decrees of all- governing wisdom and goodness, never ex- 
isted^. He appeared to suffer little bodily pain ; but his 
respiration grew gradually shorter, till at six o'clock in the 
evening of Thursday the third of November he ceased to 
breathe ; and left the world destitute of one of the most 
upright, consistent, and eminently virtuous characters 
which ever adorned human nature. Mr. Lindsey died in 
the eighty-sixth year of his age. He was buried in Bun- 
hill -fields on Friday the eleventh of November, agreeably 
to his own request, in the most private manner, in a vault 
the property of which he had purchased twenty years be- 
fore, and where the remains of his kind ^md generous 

* When Mr. Lindsey was a little recovered after his severe paralytic seiz- 
ure in the beginning of the year 1802, Mrs. Lindsey thus expresses herself 
in a letter to the author, who was then upon a visit to a friend in the coun- 
try : »" He said this morning, after reading family prayer in his usual good 
manner, ' I wish, if it is the will of God, to be enabled to finish my little 
work ; but should be sorry any moment, that the will of God should not take 
place of mine, either by incapacity or by death. 1 " 



362 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE [(JH. XV. 

friend Mrs. Rayner had, by her express desire, been al- 
ready deposited ; and in the vicinity of which reposed his 
learned and venerable associate in labours and in self- 
denial, Dr. John Jebb. A sermon upon the occasion was 
preached at Essex-street on the following Sunday to a 
crowded audience of attentive and deeply-affected mourn- 
ers, which was afterwards published *, 

Of the character of Mr. Lindsey, if the writer of this 
Memoir has succeeded in giving a faithful exhibition of 
his mind and of his works, no large recapitulation is ne- 
cessary. Disinterested glowing benevolence, springing 
from rational, ardent, and deeply-rooted piety ; supreme 
solicitude to discover truth ; unwearied pains in search- 
ing after it ; and inflexible firmness in what, after due' in- 
quiry, he believed to be right ; just views of revealed re- 
ligion, combined with earnest but not obtrusive zeal for 
their promulgation, and blended with the most unaffect- 
ed humility, and a singular courteousness of manners, 
formed by early and familiar intercourse with the great ; 
finally and eminently, a commanding sense of God and 
duty, constituted the principal lineaments in the charac- 
ter of this excellent and truly venerable man. To have 
been his coadjutor in the cause of divine truth, his friend, 
his successor, and his biographer, is a privilege of no com- 
mon value : and to be admitted hereafter into the society 
of such men as Lindsey, Priestley, Price, and Jebb, and 
of other eminent lovers of truth, and confessors in the 
glorious cause, and to share in their lot, whatever it be, 
is the highest felicity of which the writer of this Memoir 
can form a conception, or to which he presumes to aspire. 

* Discourses were delivered upon the same mournful occasion by many- 
other ministers, friends and admirers of Mr. Lindsey, some of which were 
published ; particularly by the Rev. Robert Aspland, at Hackney ; the 
Rev. Dr. Toulmin, and Rev. John Kentish, at Birmingham ; and the Rev. 
J. H. Bransby, at Dudley : and Memoirs of Mr. Lindsey were published by 
Mrs. Cappe in The Monthly Repository, Mi. Joyce in The Monthly Maga- 
zine, and by Mr. Freud. 



CH. XV-] REVEREND THEOPHILUS LTNDSEY. 3G3 

And happy will he think himself, and amply rewarded for 
all his labour, if this imperfect delineation of the character 
of his venerable friend shall excite the ambition of any of 
his readers, and especially among the rising generation of 
ministers, to emulate the spirit of the departed prophet, 
and like him to be ready, when duty calls, to sacrifice 
every secular consideration upon the altar of truth and in- 
tegrity, leaving consequences without dismay in the hands 
of governing wisdom and goodness ; which, if their fu- 
ture services be needful, will open a different and perhaps 
a more extensive sphere of usefulness ; or, if that should 
be denied, will not forget in the day of final remuneration 
the generous self-denial, the dutiful submission, nor the 
virtuous purpose, of the pious and upright heart. 

Mrs. Lindsey survived her venerable husband three 
years and two months. The health of this excellent lady 
was completely broken up by her close and anxious at- 
tendance upon Mr. Lindsey during his long illness and 
growing infirmities : so that had he lived a few months 
longer he would probably have been the survivor. And 
though her constitution seemed for a time to recover it- 
self, and gave reason to hope for continued life, yet the 
stamina appear to have been worn out ; and a gradual 
decay both of corporeal and mental vigour soon began to 
take place, till after a short illness she expired January 
18, 1812, in the seventy-second year of her age, and was 
buried the week following in the same vault with Mr, 
Lindsey and Mrs. Rayner. A funeral discourse bearing 
testimony to the uncommon merits of this admirable wo- 
man, was delivered to a numerous and sympathizing au- 
dience on the Sunday after the funeral, and has since been 
published. It may be added, that Mrs. Lindsey's intimate 
friend^ Mrs. Jebb, the relict of the celebrated Dr. John 



384 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE THEOPHILUS LXNDSEY. 

Jebb, a lady of the highest intellectual attainments and 
accomplishments, a fellow labourer and fellow sufferer in 
the same righteous cause, died two or three days after 
Mrs. Lindsey, and was buried with her husband in the 
contiguous grave. 



THE END. 



APPENDIX. 



No. I. p. 6. 

The following letters exhibit a specimen of the terms 
upon which Mr. Lindsey stood with his noble patron- 
esses, and of the high estimation in which he was held 
by them : — they also contain no mean illustration of the 
piety and virtue of the illustrious writers. 

FROM THE DUTCHESS OF SOMERSET. 
SIR, Percy Lodge, July the 9th, 0. S. 1 751 . 

I received your letter last week, and intended writing on Sun- 
day as usual, but when that day came I found it impracticable ; 
Mr. Saunders having found it more employment than I chose, by 
sending a long letter of business which I was obliged to answer. 
I hope your little pupil is well, though you did not name him in 
your last. Mrs. Pearse * dined here yesterday, in her way to the 
Forest; she looks thin, but otherwise well, and in pretty good 
spirits. She owns that Mrs. Scot has done more for her than she 
could have expected from the best daughter, and has taken the 
whole trouble and business off her hands. I find she thinks her 
circumstances will be easy, though not great ; the house in the 
Forest is to be sold ; she is not yet resolved about that in London. 

As things generally happen crossly, Lord Bateman and Mr. 
Bateman came in a little before three, and old Saunders just at 
twelve, but we left him to himself: however, he chose to stay din- 
ner. Mr. Cowslad says you write to us because you think it civil, 
when you are not a bit inclined to it : he is a good deal better, 
and so am I, but we can neither of us yet boast of our activity. 

My domesticks go on pretty peaceably, though Edward met 
with a trial of his patience last Saturday, which would have stag- 
gered yours or mine. He was almost mad with the pain of a hol- 
low tooth, and went to Colebrook to get it drawn ; but the cruel 
operator, instead of it, drew the only sound one in his head. I 
do not know what you will think of me when I tell you I am going 
to try the Glastonbury water here, and own to you that I am in- 



* This is the lady referred to in p. 6, who bequeathed to Mr. Lindsey the 
next presentation to the rectory of Chen- Mag-pa. 



366 



APPENDIX* 



[no. I, 



duced to it by a persuasion that the discovery of it is in some de- 
gree miraculous ; and if one may believe affidavits* witnessed by 
ministers of parishes and churchwardens, the cures it has perform- 
ed are so too, in scorbutic cases, king's evil, and asthmas, of many 
years standing, as it is witnessed by their nearest neighbours. 
T have had no letter from Lady Huntingdon, but I hear she is at 
Cheltenham, and pretty well. Clavering has done plaguing me, 
but I have sent his son ten guineas this morning. I have heard 
but twice from Lady Northumberland since she left London, by 
which I conclude, she finds diversions and company are not con- 
fined to the town. You judge very rightly that a little spirit and 
resolution would contribute greatly to my tranquillity ; and I often 
lament the want of it, not only as a misfortune, but as a fault, 
since it is often necessary, to enable one to support oneV inte- 
grity through a wayward and designing world, where few are what 
they appear to be : yet even that would be of little consequence, 
was one perfectly assured of being in the right one's self. 

My gentlemen send you their compliments ; and I desire mv 
compliments to little H. who, I hope, improves in more things 
than his French ; for, though that is a very proper accomplish- 
ment of a gentleman, there are yet higher titles to be aimed at, 
those of an humble christian, and lover of all mankind. I am glad 
you find the air you are in agrees with your health. Lord Albe- 
marle is made groom of the stole, and Lord Rockingham lord of 
the bedchamber. 

I am, Sir, 

Your affectionate friend and humble servant, 

F. Somerset. 

A Monsieur 
Monsieur Lindsey, chez Monsieur Fiilard, 
a Blois. 

FROM THE SAME. 

SIR, 

We were all very sorry to find by your last letter that you have 
had so violent a cold ; but if your weather has been (as I think by 
your letter it has) like ours in England, it is no wonder that you 
have suffered from it, for I never remember so cold and wet a sum- 
mer. You may depend upon my silence, in regard to your ob- 
servations on Lord W — 's constitution, as I know the ticklishness 
of treating some subjects without giving offence, which I am sure 
neither you or I intend to do. I am so far from thinking you 
oddlv employed, when you were contemplating the storm of thun- 
der and lightning, that I rather envy you for the fortitude which 
is necessarv to be a calm spectator of so awful and noble a scene. 
My own want of that virtue often makes me apprehensive that I 
am in the number of the wicked, who flee when no man pursueth, 



NC. I.] 



APPENDIX. 



while the righteous are bold as a Jion ; yet I do not despair of be- 
coming better, and consequently more courageous, as I can with 
truth affirm it is the only point I have in view ; and my most ear- 
nest desire, to keep God in all my thoughts. Yet how apt are 
the cares, and even the amusements of life, to displace his image, 
and obtrude their own vexatious impertinence in his room ! Poor 
Lady Thanet is dead. I am told that when Lady Huntingdon 
heard of her illness, she sent to offer her to come and prepare her 
for that solemn hour : but Lady Thanet sent her word it was in 
vain, for she could neither be prepared to live or die. Her great 
care upon her death-bed was the fear of being buried alive ; to 
prevent which, she ordered herself not to be taken out of her bed 
for twelve days. She has left her daughters ten thousand pounds 
a-piece. The last we heard of the Dutchess of Richmond was, 
that her doctors had little or no hopes of her. The mortality 
which within two years and a half has been so remarkable amongst 
men of the first rank, seems beginning amongst the ladies, but 
still the same eternal round of dissipation is pursued ; cards and 
gay parties are the great business of the modish world. The Duke 
of St. Albans died last Saturday se'nnight, and I am afraid has 
left his family in very indifferent circumstances. If going abroad 
is a preservative for health, I may expect to be very well; for 
within these last three weeks I have been at London, twice at 
Sion, dined with Mrs. Mordaunt, been at Thorpe with Mrs. Fo- 
ley, visited at Bulstrode, and, in short, tired myself and my horses 
sufficiently. To-morrow Lord and Lady Brooke, Lady Archi- 
bald and Miss Hamilton, Mrs. Mordaunt, and Mr. Hamilton, 
are all to dine here ; and on Thursday Lord Guernsey and Lady 
Charlotte. I dined last week at Isleworth with the Dutchess of 
Somerset, and saw my little nephew, who is a fine child. Mr. 
Bernard spoke of you in a very friendly manner ; I think he ap- 
pears a modest pretty kind of man. A sermon of his is much talked 
of at Isleworth for the singularity of the text, which was * e Re- 
member Lot's wife and his discourse greatly admired for the 
pietv and good sense of it. I am with very sincere friendship, 

Sir, 

Your most faithful humble servant, 

F. Somerset. 

To the Reverend Mr. Lindsey. 

FROM THE SAME. 

SIR, Michaelmas Day, O.S. Sunday, 175 1 - 

I fully intended writing to you, either by Sunday or Tues- 
day's post, but was prevented by a swelled face and pain in my 
head, which put me extremely out of order : it is not yet quite 
gone; but as it is something better, I would no longer defer tell- 



368 APPENDIX. [no. I, 

nig you that I am .very, glad to see Lord and Lady Northumber- 
land lay hold of the first opportunity in their power of showing 
their regard for you. I only wish that the living of Chatton were 
of greater value, or that in Yorkshire were entirely free, whichever 
you choose ; they have had the kindness to tell me they will not 
think of your leaving my family; but I know your thoughts in re- 
lation to the duty of a parish too well to reckon upon keeping 
you in it ; for which reason I must apply to you whenever it be- 
comes necessary for you to change your situation, that you will 
be so good as to choose a successor who will conduct himself as 
nearly like you as possible, for I am as little fond of a pretty gen- 
tleman in a gown as out of one. I opened Mr, Comber's letter 
because you desired me ; it did not contain above eight lines, com- 
plaining of not hearing from you, begging to do it soon to relieve 
his fears for your health ; and telling you he had met with many 
mortifications, that he feared he had lost Almira's correspondence, 
by no fault of his, but her over delicacy. The huge paper en- 
closed was two or three hundred lines, on the immensity of the 
Divine Being, which appeared to me unequal to a much humbler 
subject. 

I had a very agreeable letter last week from Dr. Oliver, who 
tells me that Lady Huntingdon is pretty well, and much employed 
in attending Dr« Doddridge, who is in a deep consumption at 
Bath, but is to set out in a few days in order to embark at Fal- 
mouth for Lisbon, from whence, it is Dr. Oliver's opinion, he will 
never return. Lady F. Shirley was with me two days ago; she 
told me that Mr. Hervey is quite recovered: but Lady Pembroke's 
marriage with a man of no birth or money (though, it is said, a 
very sensible agreeable man,) pinned us down to mere worldly 
conversation; and to tell you the truth in a whisper only for your 
own ear, her ladyship seemed to think, that as Lady Pembroke 
could not be easy to live without him, she had acted more pru- 
dently if she had taken him on any other terms ! You will easily 
believe this doctrine amazed me in the mouth of so pious a person, 
and that I have not thought fit to mention it to one of my com- 
pany, as he needs no new motives to censure whatever he fancies 
aims at being more serious than the fine world in general. Mr. 
Wilkins writes me word that Mrs. Wilkins is almost well, and pro- 
poses being here himself a few days after Michaelmas. 

A. C. is ill at Oxford, and his wise father has wrote to desire . 
he may come hither to be taken care of and drink asses milk, and 
• lesires me to send for Dr. Hay«s as often as is necessary. This 
I must beg to be excused from, as Lord and Lady N. will be here 
this week, and I expect Mrs. Pearse and Mr. Scot very soon. I 
have only one milch ass, of which my poor gardener is drinking 
the milk, though I doubt to very little purpose, for he appears 



NO. I.] 



APPENDIX. 



359 



quite spent in a consumption, though James's powder did cure 
his fever. I thank you for the epigram, which I read without 
blushing. I should have been glad to see the young nun take the 
veil, but at the same time have felt some concern lest, in so ten- 
der an age, she might have been influenced or awed into it by 
her friends ; or supposing it were her inclination at present, how 
little it could be depended upon to last fifty or sixty years, which 
she may probably live. I saw Lady Pomfret last Saturday, and 
said all I could think of to express vour gratitude and my own, 
both to her and the Bishop of Blois, for his civility to you and 
your little charge, to whom I desire my blessing. I think the 
King of France disposes of his money in giving portions to young 
women much better than if it were to procure fire-works, mas- 
querades, &c. 

I had left all the space betwixt these two lines to direct my let- 
ter, that it might not be a double one; but Lord and Lady N. 
came in just as I was finishing it on Thursday and staid till eleven 
o'clock this day : they bid me make their compliments to you, 
and send Lord W. their blessing. Lady Pomfret sent us a let- 
ter in English, which she has received from the Bishop of Blois, 
where he expresses himself so kindly on Lord W.'s account, that 
his father and mother as well as myself are extremely obliged by 
the notice he takes in it both of him and you. 

The Duke of Bolton I fancy will find a stronger restorative in 
his Dutchess's death than from all the air in France ; she died 
last Monday was se'nnight. How widely do the great and little 
folks differ in sentiments ! Poor Obadiah is in the deepest afflic- 
tion for the loss of his wife. They tell me you will be obliged to 
come over, if you accept either of the livings, in which case I 
hope you will find a few hours, if not days, to let us see you at 
Percy Lodge, where you may always be assured of a most friendly 
and sincere welcome from, 

Sir, 

Your most faithful humble servant, 

F, Somerset. 

FROM THE SAME. 
SIR, Downing Street, March 14th O.S. 1/52. 

I heartily wish my constitution would as readily enable me 
to comply with the desires of my friends as my inclination sub- 
mits to what they prescribe, but I am afraid I have little reason 
to indulge so flattering a hope ; I have hardly enjoyed an hour's 
health since I came hither, and though I have been out four or 
five times I am now confined again with great pain and lameness : 
a great inflammation upon my leg cannot be produced bv fancy ! 

2 b 



3/0 



APPENDIX. 



[no. I. 



and sitting continually in one place has brought an almost con- 
stant pain in my stomach, attended with great oppression and 
shortness of breath : these are not good ingredients to give me 
spirits for mixing with the beau monde ; and indeed were I in 
better health, I believe I should as easily enter into the manners 
of the fine folks in the moon, as into the present fashionable way 
of life in London, so different it is from what it was when I left 
it three years ago. I have had a letter from Lady Huntingdon, 
who seems very much pleased with Lady Rawdon's marriage, and 
says that Lady Selina is much better. Lord Coventry was mar- 
ried to Miss Gunning this day se'nnight, and Lady Charlotte 
Capel is to be so very soon to Mr. Villiers, Lord Jersey's brother, 
and Lady Di. Egerton to Mr. Seymour's son by Lady Hinch- 
inbrooke. The Chapter is to be held on Friday for giving away the 
garters, the new knights are declared, and they are not all those 
who were first talked of: they are Prince Edward the little Stadt- 
holder, Lord Lincoln, Lord Winchelsea ? and Lord Cardigan. 

The constant good accounts you send us of Lord W. are very 
encouraging ; pray assure him of my blessing, and tell him his 
papa has won the service of Dresden china, which was raffled for 
at White's, and valued at 400/. I see by the advertisement that 
Mr. Mason is going to publish a poem called Elfrida, which I 
shall certainly buy if I am alive at the time it comes out. Miss 
Blandy is condemned for the barbarous murder of her father, and 
you will wonder at me for being discontented that she is only to 
be hanged. H. is marched off at last, though I could not get her 
out of my house till the new housekeeper had been two days in it. 
I hope she will prove more peaceable. It signifies little what out- 
ward appearances and ceremonies are observed, if the heart and 
intentions remain inflexible ; and yet some shadow of regard to 
the mere observances of religion, may serve to renew the remem- 
brance that there is the reality of such a thing in nature, though 
laid aside for the present ; but here the names of times or seasons 
are never thought of, unless when the fine ladies are expressing 
their gratitude to Lady Cobham for comforting them in the Dut- 
chess of Dorset's absence by having an assembly on Sundays. 

The Dutchess of Somerset, my mother-in-law, did me the ho- 
nour of a visit yesterday morning; she is not well, and is to go 
to Bristol as soon as Lady Charlotte is brought to bed, which is 
expected about the beginning of May. 

I am with sincere friendship, 
Sir, 

Your most faithful humble servant, 

F. Somerset. 

A Monsieur 
Monsieur Lincbey, a Orleans. 



NO. I.] 



APPENDIX. 



371 



FROM THE SAME. 

SIR, Downing Street, March 19, 1J52. 

As I do not love to have any of my bright actions pass unob- 
served by my friends, and as I am afraid they may be neglected 
by the foreign news-writers, I had a mind to let you know under 
my own hand, that I was ]ast night at a ball at Northumberland 
House, where all the people who are famed for beauty, youth, 
gaiety, and grandeur, were assembled ; the house and suppers in 
three rooms were truly magnificent, and the owners did the ho- 
nours with a politeness and cheerfulness which I think could not 
fail to please, at least it ought not, for it must have given them 
infinite trouble as well as great expense, and poor Lady Northum- 
berland had a violent cold. I saw Lady Coventry there, who is 
certainly very handsome, but appears rather too tall to be gen- 
teel, and her face rather smaller than one would wish, consider- 
ing the height it is placed, and her dress appeared more in the 
style of an opera dancer than an English lady of quality. Lady 
Di. Egerton and Mrs. Sehvyn's grandaughter, Miss Townshend, 
appeared either of them full as pretty in my eyes with the addi- 
tion of great modesty. 

The pure and eloquent blood spoke in their cheeks : 
which it could do in very few there, for they cannot paint more 
in France than our ladies do here ; and as we always run into ex- 
tremes, white is as liberally laid on as rouge : poor Lady Mary 
Capel had, I believe, only the latter, but that in such abundance 
that it made her look older and plainer than ever I saw her. Now 
I must tell you, under the seal of confession, that from some civi- 
lities I had received from Lady Lincoln, I thought it proper to 
make her some compliment ; but when I came near her with that 
design, she was so very immodestly stripped that 1 was ashamed 
to look toward her and forced to drop my speech. The wind last 
Sunday alarmed me extremely here, but did me much greater in- 
jury at Percy Lodge, where it blew down the high elm behind 
King Edward's bench, turned the bench itself topsy-turvy and 
broke it ail to pieces, blew down several rod of paling, and some 
of the best trees in my fields ; it broke a very tall fir-tree near the 
Gothic bench, above fourteen feet above the ground, and carried 
it over the wood into the Abbey walk, where it set it upright. Here 
some bricks were blown off Payne's chimney, who was dressing 
me, and rolled along the room over our heads; and at that in- 
stant we heard the most dreadful yell below stairs that you can 
conceive: but what was our amaze when, upon running out, we 
found the staircase so filled with smoke and soot that we could 
scarce see one another or breathe ! and Lady C. Petersham, with 
her hair about her ears, four children^ and five or six maids with 

2 b 2 



37'2 APPENDIX. [NO. I. 

another woman whom I did not know, all screaming as if they 
were bewitched ! A stack of chimneys had fallen there, and the 
fire catched in two or three places ; but by the mercy of God no- 
body was hurt, and the fire soon stopped. The woman T did not 
know was Mrs. Gibber, who was reading a new farce to Lady C. 
when this accident happened. I meant to have dined alone that 
day, so my meal was slender ; but I could not help asking Lord 
Petersham and Lady Caroline to partake of it, as they could have 
nothing dressed at home, and none of their acquaintance (though 
Lady Lincoln lives but two doors off and was alarmed at the noise) 
had the humanity to invite them, which Lady C. seemed to re- 
sent, and I thought with reason. As I have now wrote sooner 
than my usual time, perhaps I shall exceed it before I write again; 
and if the date of my next should not happen to please you, I hope 
you will not tear the letter before you read it. Pray assure your 
little charge of my blessing, and Mr, Thierchen of my remem- 
brance. 

I am, Sir, 

Your very sincere and faithful humble servant, 

F. Somerset. 

A Monsieur 
Monsieur Lindsey, a Orleans. 

FROM THE SAME. 

SIR, Percy Lodge, March 5th, 1754. 

I feel myself extremely obliged to you for both your last let- 
ters, and would have told you so sooner if I could have resolved 
to send you half a side of paper with nothing but formal thanks, 
which I think is not an obliging way of corresponding with one's 
friends. 

I was surprised to meet Lady Huntingdon upon the road last 
Saturday was fortnight ; she was on her way to London, but her 
coach drove by so fast that I had only time to send Lomas after her 
with my compliments; she seemed to me to look as well as ever 
I saw her. 

Poor Mr. Thierchen has been laid up with the gout almost 
these three weeks, but insists it is only the effect of having worn 
too short a stocking, in spite of the apothecary. A. has passed a 
month with me since Christmas : if he is not quite so droll as he 
was, he makes amends by displaying the seeds of every virtuous and 
generous disposition, with the most docile temper I ever knew : 
he would not tell a lye to avoid the severest punishment that he 
can have a notion of, and has no peace if he thinks he has offend- 
ed the lowest person about the house. Poor Lord G. is the me- 
lancholy reverse of all these amiable qualities : with the face of 
a cherub, he is one of the most perverse, obstinate, ill-disposed, 



NO. I.] 



APPENDIX. 



3/3 



children that ever was born. He is severely and constantly whip- 
ped, at least once a week, but discovers no fear of punishment, 
and (what is much worse) no sense of shame when he is detected 
in lies that he has stood in for a week together, or for taking 
other people's things unknown to them ; and this last week he 
even ventured to sell a reading-glass for two shillings, and there 
is no making him confess how he came by it. 

1 am yet far from being in a good state of health, though, I bless 
God, in a much less painful one than I was some months ago ; 
I have now no remains of lameness, but I am, from the shortness 
of my breath, obliged to be always carried up stairs and often 
down ; yet this is not to excuse me from a London journey. I 
have promised to make mv appearance there next Friday se'n- 
night, if no unforeseen accident happens ; but hope not to make 
a longer stay than I did last year, unless I am detained in West- 
minster Abbey. 

I was much obliged to you for sending that fragment of Milton, 
which pleased me much, and I took the liberty to copy and con- 
vey it to Miss Talbot, who was delighted with it, but made the 
same objection with yours, that he was wrong in regard to that 
part of the Bible account of David's misfortunes and their source ! 
I must now, under the seal of confession, own to you, that after 
reading the Bible every day of my life for forty years together, I 
always understood it as Milton seems to have done. But since I 
received your letter I have read the history of David in Samuel, 
with all the attention I am mistress of, to find some other cause, 
and rummaged the library to find some commentator who would 
explain it — but they all seem to be in Milton's error — and even 
consulted the only divine in my reach (Clavering), who stared, and 
said he had always thought as Milton did." I hope you have some 
neighbours that you can converse with ; for, as partial as I am to 
retirement, I think absolute solitude is too melancholy a way of 
life for creaturesintended by the wise ruler of all things for society. 
Our excellent friend Dr. Courayer has been very ill, but is got 
quite well again, and I had a very good and cheerful letter from 
him on Sunday mornmg. indeed he has the only true cause for 
cheerfulness, the reflection on a well spent life, and having pre- 
pared himself to leave it whenever its great Author shall call him 
from hence. This preparation I hope I have been seriously en- 
deavouring after for many months and some years past ; but we 
are so apt to flatter and deceive ourselves, that I dare not trust 
myself too far, and find such continual defects in my best meant 
actions, as would take away all hopes of their efficacy if I did not 
trust in the merits and sufferings of our ever blessed Lord and 
{Saviour Jesus Christ. 

I have told you I am better, and to outward appearances I am 



374 



APPENDIX. 



[no. I. 



so ; yet 1 should not be surprised myself, nor would have ray 
friends be so, if I should be dead before this letter reaches you. 
Dr. Hayes calls my disease a nervous asthma, in which case I may 
possibly suffer on some years longer ; but by my own feelings, 
epeciallythe violentbeating of my heart and jugular veins, I should 
suppose it some great obstruction in my blood. I have hardly 
left room to subscribe myself, Sir, 

Your very sincere friend, &c. 

F. Somerset, 

No, II. p. 8. 

FROM THE COUNTESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 

DEAR SIR, Stanwick, June 1 7- 

I KNOW your friendship for me will prevent your thinking a 
letter troublesome, though it comes fraught with no other news 
but that of my safe arrival at this place, which happened on Wed- 
nesday last, after I cannot say a pleasant (for the first day we 
werechoaked with dust, and the second deluged with rain) journey 
of three days, one of which we spent at York with Mrs. Smithson, 
where we have deposited Elizabeth. I find the whole country 
here in an uproar, as they say their former Archbishop (the late 
Metropolitan) Button died an Arian ; they own they do not know 
what that is, but are sure it is something that is not the right 
religion. We are impatient to hear of the taking of St. Malo's ; 
which good news I hope a few days more will bring us. We leave 
this place for Newcastle to-morrow, where we shall stay a week 
and then proceed to Alnwick. I had the ill luck to sprain my 
knee in such a manner at York, that I am not able to stir a step 
without a stick, which confines me from walking ; which, how- 
ever, I the less regret, as the weather is thoroughly disagreeable, 
being both damp and cold. As I am in some doubt about your 
direction, I shall send this to Northumberland House, and order 
them to carry it to Lord Huntingdon, where, I conclude, they will 
be able to learn how to convey it safely to you. My Lord desires 
his compliments to you ? and I beg to trouble you with mine to 
Lady Huntingdon, Lady Seiina, and Mrs. Hastings. I am with 
the truest friendship, Dear Sir, 

Your most affectionate humble servant, 

E. Northumberland. 

To the Rev. Mr. Lindsey. 

FROM THE SAME. 

DEAR SIR, . Alnwick Castle, July 25th. 

1 am very much mortified to find that you have entirely forgot 
me, for I verily think that if you had not, you would have let me 



NO. II.] 



APPENDIX. 



375 



have had the pleasure of hearing from you before now ; to no other 
cause can I assign it but your being in love, and to that account 
will I place it, as I think love the only justifiable excuse for for- 
getting one's friends; and where that passion is divested of some 
of its sensual attributes, I think such an oblivion far from blame - 
able, highly praise-worthy, as I am convinced no passion exalts 
the soul so much as it does, nay, even in great measure, spiritua- 
lizes it ; but this being a subject I am much more versed in the 
theory than the practice of, I am liable, like other theoretical and 
aerial castle-builders, to have no foundation for my sparkling edi- 
fices ; but as they in beauty resemble the bubbles blown by chil- 
dren, they probably do the same in fragility and short duration. 
Thus far had I talked wisely without meaning (as many wise peo- 
ple do), when I received the favour of your letter, for which I 
heartily thank you, and assure you, your letters are always truly 
welcome to me, come they often or seldom ; and though I am 
always glad to hear from you when you have nothing else to do, 
yet I am far from wishing you to write when you have either busi- 
ness, company, or what you allow me to guess at to prevent you. 
I was, as you observe, at Stanwick for two nights only; but not- 
withstanding the shortness of the stay, I had time enough to hear 
a most admirable character of Mrs, Lindsey elect, which gave me 
extreme great pleasure ; and I also heard of a chance for a certain 
four thousand pounds, which (though I assure you, in an inferior 
degree) gave me great pleasure also. We set out for Scotland the 
sixth day of next month, but of how long a duration our stay there 
will be I know not. We go from Berwick by Haddingtoun to Edin- 
burgh, and from thence by Stirling and Glasgow to Air, so that 
we shall entirely cross that part of the island from east to west ; 
but as we do not proceed to the Isle of Skey, I fear I shall return 
without the gift of second-sight. Something of after-sight I be- 
lieve I have mentioned to you that I really think I have cf a night 
when I go to bed, a very odd instance of which I had lately; but 
the story is not interesting, and is besides too long for a letter. The 
last accounts we had of Lord Warkworth were from Minden, 
where he arrived July the 16th, after a most tedious march of 
twenty-five days, (through miserable roads, in wretched weather,) 
in perfect good health and spirits, and hoped to join the army 
the 18th or 19th. You may believe I am under the greatest an- 
xiety for a son so deservedly dear to me ; but to the care of the 
Almighty I commit him, who, I hope, will cover his head in the 
day of battle, and afford me the unspeakable pleasure of receiving 
him again after the campaign safe and with honor. I am sure 
he has not only my daily but hourly prayers, and I also beg to 
recommend him to yours. You are very good to have wrote to 
him ; I have sent him your letter, the receipt of which I am sure 



370 



APPENDIX. 



[no. II. 



will make him very happy. I am very sorry any company I had 
deprived me of the satisfaction of seeing 3-011, or wishing you a 
good journey, before you left London. Lord Ilchester's estate is 
a noble one, and I hope he bestows it nobly ; otherwise I am sure 
he does not deserve it. You have no notion how glad T was to 
hear of Sir Harry Heron ; I was very desirous to know if any of 
that family (one of the most ancient in this county) were yet in 
being. Tf ever you, Sir Harry, and myself are in London at the 
same time, I desire you will present me to him. I have often 
heard Mr. Delaval (the member for this county) say, that his 
mother frequently told him that in her memory nothing but tren- 
chers were in use in Northumberland, and that his grandfather 
had seventeen dozen of them ; and that in all the gentlemen's fa- 
milies an officer called a trencher-scraper (for they were not to 
be washed) was kept for that purpose only : and that Seaton De- 
laval (the seat of Long Delaval) and Chipchase (the seat of the 
Herons) were the only houses where they had pewter (and theirs 
was only dishes, and but few of them), which was only used on 
high days and holidays, and was admired by the whole country as 
an unusual piece of magnificence. This anecdote of his ances- 
tors' grandeur I dare say Sir Harry never heard. Supper bell 
rings ; so I have only time to add my lord's compliments, and 
that I am ever, Dear Sir, 

Your faithful friend and humble servant, 

Elizabeth Northumberland. 



No. III. p. 13. 

FROM ARCHDEACON BLACKBURNE. 

MY DEAR FRIEND, March 1, 1756. 

I AM much obliged to you for your last kind remembrance of 
me from Bristol ; and if you had not made me a sort of promise 
that it would be followed presently by another, you would pro- 
bably have had this acknowledgement a post or two sooner. A 
gentleman, whose correspondence does me honour, lately trans- 
mitted to me a most curious case of a British dissenting clergy- 
man, who went to Geneva to be ordained, that he might avoid 
subscription to the Westminster Confession, or any such tests of 
* human orthodoxy. He was chaplain to the Scots Greys (being 

yet unordained), travelled as tutor to two young gentlemen of the 
first rank, was himself a fine gentleman and excellent scholar, and 
yet, when, after having made the tour of Europe, and displayed 
his ministerial talents in Holland with the greatest applause, he 



NO. III. J 



APPENDIX 



377 



came to settle in a congregation in Ireland, he met with rather 
worse treatment than Mr. Emlvn, being, as I understand him, 
persecuted and put to flight for opinions which he really held not, 
merely because he would not suhscrihe to those he did hold. By 
the way, this account (if 1 mistake not) was sent me upon a chi- 
merical suspicion which my friend, himself a dissenter of eminence, 
has entertained that I am secretly pushing for a settlement among 
his brethren ; among whom he finds himself as uneasy as we find 
ourselves in the church of England. And lest you should think 
I have any such aim, it may not be amiss to inform you, that all 
these surmises have arose from a letter 1 wrote to a loquacious 
man, to enquire after the character of a dissenting academy in his 
neighbourhood, with a view of furnishing a young man for whom 
I am concerned, with a little mathematical learning. You must 
not expect long letters from me from hence to the other side of 
Easter, as 1 have not only additional sermons weekly, during 
Lent, and catechising, &c. but am pressed on alj hands to dispatch 
the Confessional, the plan after, much debate, ah intus et extra, 
being now settled, and all occasions cut of squibbing at the fun- 
gose Doctor, otherwise than as his solutions are considered in form 
among those of other men. 

March 2. No letter but one from Watson, announcing his safe 
arrival, and transmitting a curious MS. (wrote by a lady) and 
tending to prove an indispensable obligation upon Christians to 
keep two Sabbaths in the week. When one sees what different 
opinions are founded upon the Scriptures, by different heads, and 
none of them void of plausibility, 1 am strongly tempted to parody 
a striking passage in the Gospels thus : Except your charity ex- 
ceed the charity of the Athanasians, methodists, mystics, and 
zealots of every sect, ye shall in nowise enter into the kingdom of 
heaven. O my friend, what shall we do to unlade our hearts of 
the world, and to fill them with God, so as to do, think, and sav 
all to his glory r I am so far a mystic as to think this attainable, 
and am miserable, wretchedly miserable, in finding myself so far 
behind those who have already attained hitherto. Pray for me, 
dear Mr. Lindsey, as I do daily for you, that we may be really in- 
strumental in doing some of that good which is well-pleasing to 
God ; and, at least, that this svhxta may receive no let, either 
from our indolence, or the incongruity of our doctrine or manners. 
O, what a glory to carry with us one soul to heaven for seraphs to 
rejoice over, and to raise the exultations of the heavenly host ! 
What are all the cares, riches, pleasures, or anxieties in the world, 
compared to this ? Teach me, for I know you can, how that frame 
of mind is to be put on which must carry us to our utmost perfec- 
tion in Christ. I am, with unabated love for you, the unworthiest 
of all your fellow servants, F. B. 



378 



APPENDIX. 



[NO. III. 



FROM THE SAME, 

Richmond, Nov. 1 5th, 1J57. 

The choicest blessings of heaven on your noble and thrice 
worthy patroness for espousing, and on my dear good friend for 
recommending, the cause of the fatherless. If any thing farther 
remains to be done on our part towards forwarding the relief of 
these orphans you will let me know., and in the mean time I beg 
you would, with all humility, tender my sincerest acknowledge- 
ments to her good ladyship, to whose humanity and christian 
charity I hold myself the more obliged, as some other would-be- 
good ladies were applied to without success. Lady Northum- 
berland indeed would have delivered our petition, but that was 
to the other court, which we thought not so expedient as at Lei- 
cester House. My lord, too, has done an act of humanity and 
gratitude to a poor shoe-maker of this town, who was his school- 
fellow, and often assisted him in his exercises at Richmond school, 
which will make me love him as long as I live. How shall I ex- 
press the sense I have of the parental feelings of the good lady for 
her afflicted son ! Would to God my poor intercessions might 
take place, either towards removing, or alleviating what cannot 
be removed ! I was lately in company with a physician who told 
me he had been so fortunate as to prevent guttae serenae in two 
ladies (one of them his own wife) by gentle and seasonable mer- 
curial purges, at proper intervals. He says the sight of both is 
weak in general, and they have returns of the visual obstructions; 
but the cinnabar pills have as yet never failed to remove them, 
amd they pass their time very comfortably, so comfortably, that 
if he had not told me this circumstance I should never have sus- 
pected his lady (whom I see very often) of any such infirmity. He 
added, that in some other cases he had known this malady at- 
tended with a defluxion, in which case a solution of camphire in 
French brandy, softened with an emulsion of almonds, has done 
service, by way of outward application. He adds, that he knew 
an infirmity of this kind brought upon a young lady by over- 
bathing in Harrowgate waters. If any farther information I can 
get about these cases will be of use, let me know, and depend 
upon my utmost endeavours. 

Be ingenuous, my good friend : were any of the noble family 
with which you are connected, to be opposed in a borough, where 
your situation were the same as mine, could you be an indifferent 
spectator ? I wish I had time to tell you the beginning and whole 
progress of my engagements ; but Heaven has heard my prayers, 
and I trust the disagreeable contest is now at an end for this time. 
For such has been the firmness and unanimity of Mr. Yorke's 
frbnds, that Sir Conyers Darcy thought proper the other day to 



NO. III.] 



APPENDIX. 



3/9 



send a message to the corporation, that, " in consideration of the 
peace of the town,he would acquiesce in any person the burgesses 
should make choice of." This has amazed some people, who 
knew not our preparations, of which the old knight had some in- 
timations from London. Though, indeed, as he had secured the 
returning officer, I for my part expected he would have put us to 
our petition. Yesterday it was reported that the borough was 
sold toa young baronet, who has made some purchases of that sort 
in his own county. But this is so very dishonourable to a certain 
principal officer of state, that I cannot tell how to believe it, 
though apart from the circumstance of honour, it might not per- 
haps be improbable. My good friend will be cautious of men- 
tioning these matters as from me. However, take notice, all I 
have been concerned in has been fair and upright, and void of all 
corruption, which our worthy candidate abhors so much that he 
could not be brought into some measures recommended to him by 
some very honest friends as merely prudential, which if he had 
taken, he might have secured his seat beyond all dispute ; but his 
answer was, " That he had lived to the seventy-first year of his 
life without one reproach from his heart of contributing to the 
public corruption, and he would not sow the seeds of those thorns 
at this time of life." You will now collect perhaps an apology 
for me, without taking in my particular obligations and alliance 
to this family. But after all, alas ! I find too feelingly, that all 
this is but to busy ourselves about burying the dead, when we 
should be preaching the kingdom of God ; and it is impossible to 
tell you the oppressions of my heart under a load of trash, which 
my soul abhors, and from which it shall ever be my study for the 
future to escape, if possible. 

I have not time to collect all the scraps I have of David Hart* 
fey ? s meditations, which are chiefly dispersed in M. P. H.'s letters 
to me. But you may expect a summary of them from me within 
a very few posts. What good may be done in our parishes, and 
by whom the most, is a problem that I cannot undertake to solve 
for myself, much less for you. Pray God direct you in everv 
thing ; your present avocation is not to be found fault with, and 
if Heaven had given me talents such as yours for consolation, I 
should surely have dispensed with my public province (at least 
for a time) when the occasion called me to the relief of such suf- 
ferers. For the rest, you know I put the whole upon a prior obli- 
gation to him who called me; an obligation I mean prior to all 
engagements, to church- modes and church nonsense in support 
of them. My principle of attachment to the Scriptures would 
make me uneasy in any other church I know of. If I can be of 
any service, in this, God have the praise, it is a reason why I 
should press forward. He will reform all in his good time, and 



380 



APPENDIX. 



[no. IH. 



will not impute a failure in duty to those who would but cannot. 
In the mean time, I trust as to sincerity we have a good con- 
science. We fail not on all proper occasions to bear our tes- 
timony. We scruple not to acknowledge our own weakness in 
being drawn in to subscribe, especially the last time, when we 
fear the good opinion we had of a dear friend, and the regard we 
paid to his judgement, prevailed more with us than any convic- 
tion from the weight of his arguments, which we have since found 
to be feeble and insufficient. In the mean time, this we know, 
if we know any thing of ourselves, that though we labour under 
manifold difficulties, arising from a large family, and a scanty in- 
come, and the necessity upon us of spending every shilling of it 
to answer the expectations of the world in our station, and to 
avoid the least suspicions of avarice, yet would we not repeat our 
subscription, to gain the wealth of the Indies, or the honour and 
power of a popedom. Some people, my dear friend, would be 
much mortified that they could not give their children that polish 
of education which is necessary to recommend to respectable con- 
nexions with the world. I do not boast when I say that I am 
got above all this. My endeavours shall not be wanting to create 
them the most important connexions with God : if 1 succeed 
there, I and they are happy ; happy in our obscurity and disen- 
gagements from many temptations; happy in seeing our own in- 
firmities, and ten times happy in the protection of a wise and gra- 
cious Providence, who will never leave us nor forsake us. Here 
come three of them to call me to dinner. 

Grace and peace from the fountain of both be with you. 



The following letter from Thomas Hollis, Esq. under the 
fictitious name of Pierce Delver, throws some light 
upon the reported invitation of the Archdeacon to suc- 
ceed Dr. Chandler at the Old Jewry. 

DEAR SIR, Saturday morning, Oct. 18, 1 J66. 

It gives me great pleasure to hear of the perfect recovery of 
the excellent A. D. (Archdeacon.) I fear he studies, labours too in- 
tensely, though to such noble purposes and great effects ; and the 
human machine though a very fine is yet a very delicate one. Let 
us applaud his magnanimity, however, and wish him every good ! 

At my visit to worthy Mr. Fleming, he told me, that he had 
been assured the people of the Old Jewry were inclined to invite 
the excellent A. D. B. to their chair, in the room of the late Dr. 
€. if they thought he would accept it. The same was told me 
more generally afterwards in mixt company. 

September 27. Worthy Dr. H. (Dr. W. Harris) wrote me as 



NO. IV.] 



APPENDIX. 



381 



follows : ec What think you of A. D. B.'s .succeeding the late Dr. 
C. at- the Old Jewry ? I saw Mr. Amory at Taunton, and he tells 
me it is talked of by that society. The Confessional is much 
read and admired." To this I replied generally, as I remember, 
for I cannot copy every thing, as follows : 

That I had avoided writing to you on the subject. 

That I knew the incomparable A. D. had a real and high esteem 
for the body of Protestant Dissenters. 

That whatever his resolution might be, I was confident the pro- 
position, if made, would be treated by him with perfect civility 
and respect. 

That for my own part, I should be sorry the A. D. should ac- 
cept the proposition, however handsomely tendered, for his own 
sake and the public ; as I was persuaded it would render uncom- 
fortable, and shorten his valuable life by town air and customs j 
and lessen his power of doing great public good, by taking him 
out of the alone, precise situation in which, with his powers and 
magnanimity to effect it, he 

" Rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm." 

From Dr. H. I have not since heard. 

For the rest. The Dissenters are, it may be, hest seen in their 
principles and not individually ; though the people of the Old 
Jewry rank, not only in point of wealth, but of sense and polite- 
ness^ among the first of them. 

I am, with highest respect to two gentlemen, Dear Sir, 

Your affectionate friend and most obedient servant, 
To the Rev. T. Lindsey, Catterick. PlERCE DELVER. 



No. IV. p. 41. 

A LETTER FROM HANS STANLEY, ESQ. TO MR. LINDSEY, ASSIGN- 
ING HIS REASONS FOR DECLINING TO SUPPORT THE CLERICAL 
PETITION. 

DEAR SIR, Paultons, Nov. 12, 1771. 

You certainly need no apology for addressing yourself to me 
upon any subject; your own merit and our long acquaintance 
entitle you to my attention, and give you a right to expect that 
answer, which you are pleased to ask as a favour. 

You will give me leave to follow your introduction of this mat- 
ter, by assuring you on my part, that if your request related to 
any private interest of your own within my small power, I should 
heartily wish to serve you; but-in the present case it cannot weigh 
with me to promote innovations in the law, which I think not 
only unnecessary, but extremely mischievous. 



382 



APPENDIX. 



[no. IV. 



The peace of mankind is a fortieth article of my religion, which 
1 hold to be much more important than any of the thirty-nine 
objected to by those who with a very blameable indiscretion (and 
some, I believe, from worse motives) are willing to disturb it. I 
shall not easily concede that any alteration either in these or the 
Liturgy is necessary, unless they contain doctrines contrary to 
sound morality and civil obedience, but even then I should bv no 
means concur in the prayer of your petition : I should rather be 
led to a conclusion totally different, for I should think that the 
specific article ought to be amended, and not the whole set aside \ 
but this is a work in the first instance for synods and convocations: 
many preparatory steps, which 1 have not wisdom enough to in- 
dicate, ought to precede the parliamentary consideration* 

I deny that any of the Reformers whose names are transmitted 
to posterity with respect, ever adopted so wild an idea as that of 
a Christian society without an established church holding certain 
defined tenets. The liberty of judging for yourselves of the sense 
of Scripture is a possession, which, you say, all men have a right 
to enjoy; I not only agree with you in this proposition, but I 
will add, that you have a right to teach and inform others ac- 
cording to your own sense of Scripture, provided your lessons are 
conducive, or at least indifferent, to the happiness of mankind 
and the tranquillity of the state ; but these concessions do not 
exclude every government from giving the preference to such 
forms, or to such doctrines, which appear most eligible in their 
united public sense, which constitutes the law. Therefore the 
ministers of Separatists are maintained at the expense of their 
congregations ; dignities and preferment belong exclusively to 
the established church alone ; this has been, is, and ever must 
be the rule in the most tolerant states, and even in the freest 
republics. 

The wisdom of Providence seems in its dispensations to have 
reserved this authority for the future succession of Christian 
churches : it never could be supposed that the poor, and the ig- 
norant, who compose the greater number of the laity, could 
give up their labour for, and pass their lives in, the investigation 
of this divine system. It may perhaps be asserted, that the Scrip- 
ture is so clear, and so full, that it wants no interpretation, nor 
any supplementary addition. If this be true, how happens it, 
that we are hitherto not better agreed ? Why has the world been 
disturbed by so many leaders of sects and heresiarchs, who (if 
they were all now alive upon the face of the earth) might com* 
pose as large an army as that with which Alexander the Great 
conquered the Persian empire? Yet, all these men were convinced 
and maintained that their opinions were founded in, or derived 
from, Holy Writ. 



NO. TV.] 



APPENDIX. 



If the Scripture needs no explanation, I will turn Quaker, and 
join in anv measure which tends to set aside your whole order as 
an useless expense. But if it does require explanation, I chuse 
to trust that task rather to the well digested and mature studies 
of our venerable Hierarchy, than to the crude transient notions, 
which caprice, vanity, self-conceit, and folly may suggest to every 
idle coxcomb, who wants to be taken notice of for his singulari- 
ty. I am therefore (within the bounds of toleration which I have 
laid down) an advocate not only for strict subordination, to over- 
awe and coerce such dangerous impertinences, but for written ca- 
nons, creeds, and articles to warn rash unthinking men of the 
future censure and punishment they may incur ; for it is essen- 
tial to justice to mark out plainly offences of every kind, and it 
is an arbitrary exertion of power to inflict penalties without such 
notice. I should at the same time strenuously oppose the com- 
pelling any individual to sign any article of faith whatever. But 
nothing of this kind is at present done: every man is left to his 
own free choice, and every honest man will therein follow the 
dictates of his own opinion ; nor will there arise the slightest in- 
convenience if (from peculiar objections to the Liturgy, or the 39 
Articles) some few persons more should chuse in the various pro- 
fessions of laymen to follow an active life of virtuous industry : I 
thank God we live neither in a desart country, nor an illiterate 
age, and I hope we are not likely soon to want a decent and worthy 
succession in our priesthood. 

If (as you are pleased to inform me) bishops and others have 
in their writings, preachings, &c. receded from what they have 
signed, and what the law has enjoined, I do not think the pre- 
cedent so good as to wish the practice general ; nor does the ex- 
ample of a College in Cambridge weigh greatly with me: I have 
quite accidentally heard somewhat of the secret history which 
has passed within those walls 5 if I am not deceived, that signa- 
ture has been chiefly promoted by a factious abetter of those 
senseless seditious disputes which have divided us upon political 
subjects, and which are already enough envenomed without your 
throwing in the fresh corrosive of religious controversy. How 
total a fermentation such a mixture may produce is well known 
to all those who have read the history of this country for the last 
century. 

As no church is so purely of divine institution as not to smell 
a little of humanity, our Establishment may be liable to some er- 
rors ; yet does it leave you sufficient scope to be, as you actually 
are, a very good man, and to contribute greatly to render your 
parishioners such. The wisdom of government, ever since the house 
of Hanover ascended the throne, has maintained your order in 
the possession of sufficient respect, and has kept you perfectly 
quiet ; neither the good treatment you have enjoyed nor your 



384 



APPENDIX. 



[no. iv. 



want of power have been founded on the plan of any particular 
administration, they have arisen from the general sense and tem- 
per of this age. The reign of the Angelick and Seraphick Doe- 
tors is past and gone ; were they now to appear again, the 
world would busy itself very little about their subtilities ; nay, I 
am sanguine enough to believe that Prynne, Burton, and Bast- 
wick would at present have few partizans unless they were per- 
secuted, which 1 think very unlikely to happen to any man. The 
vice of the present times is rather too much indifference about 
religious matters, and opinions : if I might, therefore, as a real 
friend, presume to advise the Clergy, they ought not, while total 
infidelity is gaining ground upon them, to expose any partial 
weaknesses of their system, and thus by trivial and frivolous dis- 
agreements among themselves perhaps endanger the whole fa- 
brick. I have sometimes in my more serious hours regretted that 
the poor Apocrypha found no better advocate, because by re- 
jecting those books the rest of the Bible was perhaps brought 
under some degree of doubt ; and if the Liturgy or the Thirty- 
nine Articles were now deserted, who knows where the growing 
incredulity of mankind would stop } 

Upon the whole, my dear sir, I heartily wish it was possible 
for you to desist from a design which I so highly disapprove and 
must so entirely discountenance ; but I well know the warmth 
with which these speculations are pursued by those who have 
once adopted them. I trust, however, there will be found so- 
briety and understanding enough in the House of Commons to 
reject your petition without any more debate than what every sin- 
gle member has a right to command upon every question how- 
ever improper to be moved. I beg you will believe that though 
we differ so widely upon this public point, which I have endea- 
voured to treat with all possible candor and frankness, I shall 
ever be ready to receive your commands with regard to all mat- 
ters which regard yourself, or in which i can prove to you the 
arfection and esteem with which I am, dear sir, 

Your most obedient and most humble servant, 

H. Stanley. 



Correspondence of Dr. Markham, Bishop of Chester, af- 
terwards Archbishop of York, with Mr. Lindsey, upon 
his Resignation of the Vicarage of Catterick. 

FROM THE REV. T. LINDSEY TO THE BISHOP OF CHESTER. 
MY LORD, Catterick, Nov. 12, 1773- 

It is my duty, and full time that I should acquaint your Lord- 
ship with my intention of resigning the vicarage of Catterick, in 
your diocese of Chester, the latter end of this month. 



NO. IV.] 



4 

APPENDIX. 



385 



If your place of residence had been within any convenient 
distance, as it would have been more respectful, I should have 
been desirous to have waited on your Lordship, and made my 
resignation into your own hands. 

I am obliged to take this step, after long deliberation, for the 
relief of my own mind, not being able in any way to satisfy my- 
self with officiating according to the present forms of our church, 
and not thinking myself at liberty to make those very material 
alterations that would satisfy me : I mean in changing the object 
of -worship, which to me appears to be sadly mistaken in many 
parts of the service. 

I have the honour to be, 
My Lord, 

Your Lordship's most humble and obedient servant, 

T. LlNDSEY. 

FROM THE BISHOP OF CHESTER TO THE REV. T. LlNDSEY. 
REVEREND SIR, Sion End, near Brentford, Nov. 16, 1773. 

I received this morning the favour of your letter, acquaint- 
ing me with your intention to resign your vicarage, and at the 
same time signifying your motives. The business is so important, 
and the time you mention so very short, that I am using the first 
moment to give you my sentiments, in hopes that I may possibly 
put the question in such a light, as may at least procure a sus- 
pension of your design. For, to say the truth, my heart has 
taken a very serious and sad concern in this transaction^ not 
only from the charity which I owe to you, as my brother, and 
because I seek the truth, as I believe you do, but from the im- 
pressions which I have received of your character from two very 
good men, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Smelt. I have heard from them 
that you are a sincere believer of the Holy Scriptures: upon that 
ground I speak to you : the question is not to be tried at the bar 
of human reason, but depends entirely upon a true explanation 
of the divine writings, which those who have supported the opi- 
nions which you seem to hold are used to interpret in such a 
manner as the original languages can no wise suffer, and without 
it they could never have contrived to get over a number of texts 
which are as strong and explicit as any in the Bible. But car- 
nal wisdom is followed. Philosophy will know every thing, and 
has as yet discovered nothing; it is still a stranger to the essence 
of the meanest thing about us^ and yet will know the essence of 
the Deity, and will say this and this is contrary to it. Our 
religion is supported by the fullest and clearest testimonies; and 
yet the whole of it is truly incomprehensible from the creation 
of man to his final resurrection; but the filiation of our Saviour 
is not only a great mystery, but though explained to us as far as 



386 



APPENDIX. 



[no. IV. 



is useful in our present state, is from the nature of the subject 
particularly involved. We are prepared for this difficulty by the 
prophet Isaiah ; his words are, as quoted in the Acts, -njvSs 
ysvsav olvtou ti$ ^yrjceTai ? Rut the embarrassment has chiefly 
risen from the number of texts that seem to militate against 
his divine nature; which must necessarily happen, as he is most 
commonly spoken of in his inferior capacity, the man Jesus, the 
visible Agent on earth, the Teacher, the Redeemer, in which 
characters he has a more immediate relation to the human 
race; and in which his office and ministration were exemplified. 
But there are other texts which are very express. I will men- 
tion a few of such as occur to me, and which I think least 
liable to disputation, because they appear in both the Old and 
New Testament, in the first applied to God, in the second to our 
Saviour. 

When Moses asks the name of God, he is told in those words 
which denote eternal existence that his name is I am. Our Sa- 
viour answers the Jews, Verily before Abraham was, lam. 

Isaiah says of God, At his name every knee shall bow, of things 
in heaven, &c. which very words are by St. Paul used directly of 
our Saviour. 

God is continually spoken of in the Old Testament, by the 
names of the just one, the holy one, &c. The same are applied 
to our Saviour. The appellation of the Lord is given to God 
throughout the Old Testament, by which Christ is constantly 
named in the New. 

Indeed I do not know what they would make of that person, 
who is so often declared to be far above all angels, and whose 
shoes St. John Baptist (who had been declared greater than a 
prophet) was not worthy to unloose. 

I cannot flatter myself that this slight discussion of a great 
subject should have so much weight, as at once to determine 
you against your former deliberate reasonings; but it may cali 
to your memory, how often we are. told ju,vj wregfgovav icatp o 
Qgoveiv, that without humbleness of mind our faith is always in 
danger. It may prevent your taking a hasty step, by which, if 
I do not misconceive your character, you of all men may be 
made most miserable, if you should see occasion to change your 
opinion, and then reflect that you had not only deserted your 
station, but had encouraged schism and heresy. Indeed, if you 
reflect that the words In the name of the Father, the Son, and 
the Holy Ghost were given by our Saviour to the Apostles, 
and that St. Stephen called upon Christ to receive his soul, you 
cannot think yourself unauthorised in the use of our forms, and 
may satisfy your conscience in acquiescing, at least, till all that 
is said in support of them can be disproved. I write this for 



NO. IV.] 



APPENDIX. 



38/ 



your own use, and confidentially. I detest the wrangle of con- 
troversy. El Tl$ doKSl ZiVCLi <pi\0V£iX0$y ^Sl$ OUX. S%0fJt,SV TOlXVTYjV 

cruvrfisioiv. I quote by memory, probably incorrectly. Prav, con- 
sider this, and give me your answer. 

I am, with a true regard, 

Your affectionate brother, 

W. Chester. 

EXTRACT FROM MR. LINDSEY's REPLY. 

1 am surely obliged to the friends your Lordship mentions 
for giving your Lordship such a favourable representation of my 
character, and feel the serious concern and kindness which dic- 
tated the letter I have the honour to receive from you this 
morning. 

It was natural for your Lordship with these dispositions to- 
wards me to bid me beware of precipitation in a matter of such 
moment. But though suddenly and so lately communicated to 
vour Lordship, this resolution is no hasty step, but the result of 
many years anxious enquiry and deliberation, and trying every 
expedient that might give me ease. 

And my faith is built not on a system of philosophy, but on 
an impartial examination of the mind and will of God, as dis- 
covered in the Old and New Testament. And I am constrained 
on this occasion to tell your Lordship, that I am so persuaded of 
the strict unity of God, taught by Moses and the prophets, and 
last of all by our Saviour Christ, that though no one is further 
from condemning others that differ, I should hold it impiety in 
me to continue to worship Christ, or any other being or person. 
I cannot, therefore, continue to lead the devotions of a congre- 
gation in the church of England, who esteem it sinful in myself 
constantly to use that worship and abet it. 

Your Lordship will believe, all those texts which you point 
out to me have fallen under consideration, and which if I note, 
it is not in the spirit of dispute, which ill becomes ine towards 
vou on such an occasion, but out of respectful attention to what 
you are pleased to select. 

[Mr. Lindsey having suggested the usual explanations of the 
texts alleged by the worthy prelate, proceeds as follows :] 

Whatever be the distressing consequences of this determina- 
tion with regard to worldly things, I can never repent of it, as 
led to it by no motive but a desire to approve myself to God. and 
what my duty to him required. 



388 



APPENDIX. 



[no. V, 



No. V. 

Letters to Mr. Lindsey upon his Resignation. 

FROM THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GREY COOPER. 
MY DEAR SIR, Kevv Lane, Nov. 6, 1773, 

I HAVE received your letter, which filled my heart with grief, 
and made my eyes glisten with tears ; I have not a word to say 
or an argument to offer against your resolution to quit your pre- 
ferment; I must however lament the cruel necessity that forces 
you out of a situation in which you and your good wife might 
have continued blessings to your parish and neighbourhood ; 
I will add only this short but sincere assurance, that it would 
give me the utmost satisfaction to have it in my power to assist 
you in any new course of life which you may think proper to 
follow. Lord North has seen your letter, and was affected by 
reading it: he has an excellent heart, and a just feeling for every 
act of honour and conscience. It is not yet decided who is to 
have Catterick; Mr. Chayter has applied for it, and his brother- 
in-law Mr. Robinson, my colleague; — will you allow me to ask 
what is the annual income of it, and on what account it is as 
you say eligible ? Perhaps it may be better than my brother's 
at Mansfield, and in that case I would try to manage an exchange 
between Mr. Chayter and my brother. I beg pardon for trou- 
bling you with such things at this time; but as soon as I receive 
your answer I shall be able to inform you with certainty who 
will be your successor ; at present I am rather inclined to think 
it will be Mr. Chayter. My wife sends her best compliments to 
you; she was much moved with the contents of your letter. 
I am, my dear sir, 

Your affectionate friend and servant, 

Grey Cooper. 

from earl percy, late duke of northumberland, 
NOV. 1773. 

DEAR SIR, Stanwick, Wednesday morning. 

I am sorry to find by your letter which I received just now, 
that I have been deprived of the pleasure of seeing you by a cold. 
When my mother was so good as to shew me her answer to your 
letter, I told her I thought she had said all that could be said on 
that subject, but that I knew your way of thinking on that affair 
much too well, to suppose any thing on earth could prevent you 
from resigning a living, which your conscience told you, you 
could no longer hold as an honest man, void of time-serving 
hypocrisy. I hope, however, I shall have the pleasure of seeing 
you here before you leave the country, as I do not think of going 



NO. V.] 



APPENDIX. 



389 



to town till after Christmas. At any rate I shall wish much to see 
your Reasons, when they are published; and have not the least 
doubt but they will give me great satisfaction, I beg my respects 
to Mrs. Lindsey, and be assured I am and ever will be 

Your sincere friend, 

Percy. 

from the rev. new come cappe. 
DEAR SIR, York, Nov. 1, 1773. 

Your truly christian and heroical determination is above my 
praise, and will afford you such hope and joy in God as will 
render human praise unnecessary to you, and human censure 
insignificant. I thank God from my heart, that there are men 
in the world who will buy the truth and sell it not. Your ex- 
ample, I think, cannot fail to increase the number of them. 
Sure, it must impress some hearts with a conviction that there 
is something serious in religious truth and liberty, and some- 
thing real that is not of this world. The comfort and reward of 
confessing Christ you must have, and your name I trust will be 
held in everlasting remembrance by the friends of truth and vir- 
tue, and will continue to do good when your personal services 
are over. Those who esteem you as they ought, cannot be unaf- 
fected with the inconveniences you may suffer, and that not in your 
own person only, from your integrity. It is an afflicting thought ; 
but the utility of your example is connected with this circum- 
stance, and 1 hope in God that the righteous will not be for- 
saken. As to the business you mention, Mr. Hotham (who 
presents to you his most respectful compliments and the sin- 
cerest tenders of his service) will join with me to do the best we 
can for you. If you will send either the books or a list of them, 
we will treat with a bookseller about them. If his proposal 
comes not up to your idea of their value, and the books are nu- 
merous enough, it may be worth while to sell them by a marked 
catalogue, and this, if you approve of it, we will do. I am 
greatly obliged to you for the tender regard you express toward 
me and my little family, and I remain with the highest esteem, 
and all manner of good wishes for you and every one that is dear 
to you. 

Your affectionate humble Servant, 

N. Cappe. 

To the Rev. Mr. Lindsey, at Catteriek. 

FROM THE REV. SAMUEL BADCOCK OF BARNSTAPLE. 
REV. SIR, June 11, 17?4. 

Having read your Apology with peculiar pleasure, I cannot 
resist the impulse of writing to you. There was a time when, 
shackled by the bonds of intellectual slavery, I should have shud- 
dered at your freedom, and have forgot your honesty amidst your 



390 



APPENDIX. 



[ko. V. 



heterodoxy. But now I measure mankind on a larger scale, and 
if I see the former I forget the latter. My travels in the theo- 
logic region have been variously conducted : but amidst every 
intricacy I never lost sight of sincerity. When reason was hood- 
winked, that like a faithful companion attended even mv wan- 
derings; and I hope I shall never forfeit the protection of such 
a friend. I enter into your feelings with a sympathy which I 
cannot express. I insensibly catch your spirit as it shines forth 
in the mild lustre of primitive simplicity; and pray that I may 
be a follower of those who through faith and patience pursue 
the promises. 

Most heartily do I congratulate you on that exalted superiority 
of mind, which, abstracting you from the world, must inspire 
you with such joys as the world cannot give nor take away. 
They flow from that noble independence which is the first gift 
of heaven. Go on and prosper. May the influence of your 
example be as diffusive as corruption hath been ! Truth like the 
sun may be clouded, but cannot be extinguished. — No: it will, 
when it begins to dawn, pursue its course till it gains the perfect 
day. Then will the sons of ignorance and bigotry fly with dis- 
may, when the Lord shall scatter the one with the breath of his 
mouth, and eclipse the other in the brightness of his coming. 

Fox's letter at the end of your Apology is really an excellent 
one. I have translated it, to gratify a friend; and have been 
urged to publish it for general entertainment in some paper or 
magazine. 

1 beg leave to ask you one question, — Was you the author of 
a paper in the Theological Repository, signed Socrates Scho- 
lasticus P I think I trace Mr. LiJidsey in it. Barnuensis is 
the very person who is now writing to you ; and it would not in 
the least lessen my esteem and love of you, if I was sure that you 
had opposed me. In one respect I merited correction ; though 
in another respect it was doing me too much honour. Let this 
plead for my pertness. I was scarcely two-and~ twenty when f 
writ that paper, and did it in a hurry, urged on by the warm 
solicitations of bigotry. 

I suppose you are acquainted with that worthy man Dr. 
Priestley. I am happy in his friendship, and owe much to his 
writings, I love every good man with the most sincere affection ; 
and in proportion as he is distinguished for the noble qualities of 
disinterested zeal and sincerity, so proportionably do I value and 
esteem him, as the highest character that earth can be blessed 
with. On these principles 

I am, dear Sir, 
Your most affectionate brother and friend, 

S. Badcock. 

To the Rev. Theoph. Lindsey. 



I 

NO. VI.] APPENDIX. 391 

No. VI. 

Extracts of Letters from the late Thomas Mollis, Esq. 
under the title of Pierce Delver, to the Rev. T. 
Lindsey. 

As I think to be well informed, Mrs. Macaulay has lately 
sold to Messrs. Dilly, booksellers, in the Poultry, the power of 
making an octavo edition of her works, she reserving her right 
afterward in those works for 900/. ! Also, the right of every 
future volume which she shall write, for one thousand pounds 
each volume ! 

It seems this lady thinks there will be three more volumes to 
the elevation of the house of Hanover. When those are written, 
she purposes to write the History of the Tudors. And then, to 
place a large Introduction before her History, which shall begin 
with the earliest account of Britain, and stride down to her his- 
tory of the Tudors. 

The bargain seems to be a good one on her part. But, to 
me, it would be a sad case to write of liberty, magnanimity, at 
a price, and against a season, at any price ! 

It seems for some time past, when only three volumes of her 
History were published, Mrs. M. wanted Mr. Cade!! to buy the 
copyright of them, &c. ; but he chose not to meddle with her 
History in so imperfect, uncertain a state. 

On the present occasion, she has not said one word to him, 
though always in every shape most respectful toward her and 
vigilant to promote her interests. Mr. C. is rather concerned 
at her behaviour ; and tells me that he should have been glad 
to have taken share in the octavo edition, but not in the agree- 
ment for the future unbegotten volumes at any rate. 

The other day I paid her a visit at her house in Berners Street, 
Oxford Road, on a particular occasion, by desire. That house, 
a new one, she has bought, and furnished handsomely. She had 
the air of a princess, out-Cornelised the Cornelisians, and had 
the frank Bath air upon her countenance. 

It seems she keeps two servants in laced liveries, treats cle- 
verly and elegantly, and in short, author or fine lady, surpasses 
all her sex. 

All this in confidence, for I respect her exceedingly, and she 
is to be maintained in much just commendation for her many 
extraordinary qualities and the cause sake. 

I am, with great esteem, 
Dear Sir, 
Your affectionate friend and 

most obedient servant, 

Fierce Delver. 



392 



APPENDIX. 



[no. VII. 



FROM THE SAME. 

The writer considering the uncertainty and accidents of life, is 
desirous of sending a copy of a curious letter written to him 
by a worthy person, August 3, 1767. 

ci Thomas Secker was born about the year 1693 or 4, son of 
a reputable shopkeeper at Chesterfield, in Derbyshire. His sister 
married Sam. Wildbore, of Brewhouse-yard, near Nottingham, 
a protestant dissenter, and by trade a dyer. His brother George 
was put to the Coventry business, where he lived many years, a 
professed protestant dissenter; and, for aught 1 know, may yet 
live ; though the ABP has one of his sons in the church. 

C( Thomas Secker, after he left the Grammar-school, I think 
went to the Academy at Attercliff, and, however this, he finished 
at Sam. Jones's Academy in Tewksbury. There it was he 
wrote some letters in the controversy between Dr. S. Clarke 
and Leibnitz, on Liberty and Necessity, which gained him the 
Doctor's favour. 

C£ After this, he was some time with his sister aforesaid, in 
Brewhouse-yard, where he constantly attended the worship of 
the protestant dissenting church, under the pastoral care of the 
Rev. Mr. Bateson, with whom he was very familiar. 

u He then went to study physic at Leyden ; and then took the 
degree of M.D. 

" Becoming acquainted with one of the sons of Dr. Talbot, 
Bishop of Durham, he travelled with him; when great affection 
for T. S. led the son to recommend him so strongly to the patron- 
age of the Bishop, that he gave him expectation of providing 
for him in the church; whereupon he went to Oxford, studied 
there some time, and would have exchanged his diploma of M.D. 
for that of D.D., but could not obtain any higher than LL.D., 
which is his signature to this day. 

" Bishop Talbot gave him a rich prebend in the Durham 
Cathedral, and also soon a great living. He married a lady in 
the Talbot family, as was thought bv some in gratitude. Chan- 
cellor Talbot was his friend; and he thus had the ladder of pre- 
ferment made easy to him/' 



No. VII. 

Letters from the Rev. W. Hopkins. 

DEAR SIR, Cuckfield, March 29, 1784. 

I have lately perused your Historical View of the State of 
the Unitarian Doctrine and Worship, and take an early oppor- 
tunity to express my grateful thanks for this useful and entertain- 



NO. VII.] 



APPENDIX. 



393 



ing history. But before I proceed to take any notice of the 
contents of it, I cannot help sending my sincere congratulation 
upon the victory you and Mrs. Lindsey have gained over one of 
the greatest temptations of human life, and have set a noble 
example of christian fortitude, even in these times. You have 
laid a glorious foundation for the establishment of genuine Chris- 
tianity amongst all protestants, which of course will prove an 
excellent means to demolish the gross corruptions of popery, 
which derive some support from the flagrant errors yet remaining 
in protestant churches. In your Historical View I meet with 
many curious anecdotes with which I was unacquainted ; though 
several years ago, I was engaged in a scheme something resem- 
bling the Historical View, but was interrupted after some little 
progress made in it. I was very much surprised to find that the 
eminent Dr. Doddridge should contend for that very absurd 
notion of Christ's being possessed of two natures; but the vast 
convenience of being provided with a solution, well accommo- 
dated to reconcile the most palpable contradictions, had too 
much influence upon his mind. Philpot's case affords a strik- 
ing instance of a cruel persecuting temper, at the very time he 
was suffering himself for his religious principles. The cause of 
Christianity was at first supported and propagated by fair and 
open professions, though frequently attended with terrible evils. 
But it is to be lamented, that during the corrupt state of the 
apostate church, many nice arts have been employed to palliate 
established forms, and hinder the progress of the plain simplicity 
of the Gospel of Christ. Your strictures upon those great and 
good men, Sir Tsaac Newton, Dr. Clarke, and Bishop Hoadly, 
are, I think, very just. What persecution could the bigots have 
inflicted upon such persons, since this family came to the throne, 
if they had taken very bold steps in maintaining the cause they 
certainly had at heart? It may perhaps appear not impertinent 
to take notice of a conversation that passed many years ago, 
when I was very young, at a worthy clergyman's house, who had 
been preferred by Bishop Hoadly, and likewise was intimate with 
Dr. Clarke. The clergyman was speaking in a soft and cautious 
way of his friend Dr. Clarke, and cUened that he could not 
make il do very well: in other plainer terms, it was difficult to 
make the Athanasian Creed consistent, with subscription. But 
the Doctor, he said, could say as much for a bad cause as any 
one. This declaration made a strong and lasting impression 
upon my mind. It only shows that the Doctor was an able 
pleader, and at the same time the cause was bad: and indeed 
I found by dear-bought experience, that it proved a bad cause 
to me. The learned Mr. Wasse, of whom you make mention, 
gave a noble example to the members of Oxford and Gem- 



APPENDIX. 



[no. VII. 



bridge, by his open professions and declaration of holding a 
debate with Dr. Potter, late Abp. of Canterbury, at that time 
Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford. I have been always of 
opinion, that the method proposed by Mr. Wasse was an excel- 
lent one, and am really concerned that this plan has never been 
imitated and reduced to practice. Of what use are theological 
debates, as commonly held by the Professors of Oxford and 
Cambridge, when the disputants are tied down to determine 
the questions proposed by established standards of orthodoxy? 
I cannot help my hearty approbation of your inserting Abp. 
Herring's letter to Dr. Jortin: I am of opinion that this letter 
will be of service to the cause. I have the satisfaction to find 
in the list of your worthies, names which I never heard of before : 
viz. Mr. Maty, Mr. Harries, and Mr. Ross of Scotland. May 
the number of such worthy persons perpetually increase 1 My 
own story relative to the cause is not worth relating, and I pass 
it off in silence. But i would just remind you, that you have 
omitted some Unitarians worthy of notice, viz. Gilbert Clerke, 
fellow of a college in Cambridge before the Restoration. As 
the statutes obliged him to go into orders by a particular time, 
he made it his choice to resign his fellowship, and all pretensions 
to church preferment. The great Mr. Locke, the Rev. Mr. Tom- 
kins, the Rev. Mr. Gibbs, two dissenting ministers who were 
ejected from their congregations upon account of their Unitarian 
principles. 

Unitarians, as they are uniformly agreed in the grand points 
of the question, should carefully avoid disagreeable altercations 
upon their lesser differences. Upon a review, the whole of what 
I now maintain is no more than this, that the direct invocation 
of Christ is lawful upon some occasions, and that J cannot pro- 
test against the lawfulness of it, as I have openly done against 
the third and seventh petitions of the Litany, and all passages of 
a similar nature. It is now high time that I should make my 
sincere acknowledgement's to you and Dr. Disney for the trouble 
you have given yourselves about my translation, which I find is 
done in an handsome manner. I heartily wish all possible suc- 
cess to your ministry at the Chapel in Essex Street, and likewise 
to the Society; and am, dear Sir, with my respectful compli- 
ments to Doctor and Mrs. Disney, to Dr. and Mrs. Jebb, and 
Mrs. Lindsey, 

Your much obliged friend, 

W. Hopkins. 

P. S. Unless my memory deceive me, for I am not in pos- 
session of the tracts. Dr. Price and Dr. Priestley had a friendly 
debate upon liberty and necessity. I profess myself strongly 



NO. VII.] 



APPENDIX. 



attached to the cause of moral liberty in the strictest sense, in 
opposition to necessity of every kind, whether arising from ex- 
ternal or internal causes. If 1 remember right, Dr. Price main- 
tained his point, viz. liberty, in an able and rational way; but 
when he came to the grand difficulty, which has perplexed the 
best writers upon the subject, viz. how to reconcile prescience 
with liberty, he seemed distressed. It has generally been taken 
for granted on both sides, that divine prescience must be admit- 
ted as a truth. But really I entertain very great doubts, occa- 
sioned by a careful perusal of a chapter in Crellius De Sapieniia 
Dei, which does not seem to have engaged the attention of the 
learned so much as it deserves. A rational and sensible person 
was going to write upon this subject, to whom I recommended 
this chapter of Crellius ; but as he was unacquainted with the 
learned languages, I engaged to translate part of the chapter. 
If Dr. Price has never seen this chapter, and Crellius's works 
have not fallen in his way, I should esteem it as a favour if you 
would present my respects to him, and beg of him to accept of 
this translation, if not disagreeable, which possibly may tend to 
illustrate a subject he has frequently considered. The person 
for whom it was originally intended has been dead some time. 
If the Doctor be in possession of Crellius's works, I must ask his 
pardon for this impertinence, as I am sensible he understand^ 
the language much better than the translator. 'Tis proper to 
add that I did not translate the whole chapter. 

FROM THE SAME. 
DEAR SIR, Cuckfield, April '29, 1/84. 

Last week your extraordinary favour came to hand, and I 
think myself obliged to take an early opportunity to acknowledge 
with gratitude the kind and friendly manner with which you treat 
me. I thought it not improper to take notice of some names 
omitted in your very useful work, and am really surprised that 
the learned Mr. Peirce should escape my observation, of whom 
I had conceived an high opinion, and some of whose excellent 
works I have in my possession. With respect to Mr. Gilbert 
Clerke, I can communicate no other particulars than what you 
may find in Mr. Nelson's Life of Bishop Bull (pag. 497, 499 ? 
502, 50S — 513). He seems to have given an impartial account 
of the Life and Character of Mr. Gilbert Clerke ; but what was 
naturally to be expected, he speaks slightingly of his perform- 
ances, in part of which he presumed to differ from the celebrated 
Defender of the Nicene Faith. The Bishop, as you rightly ob- 
serve, treats poor Mr. Clerke in an indecent manner, more espe- 
cially as Mr. Nelson himself has given him a good character ; 
I call him poor, for in one part of his life he ran the hazard, for 



396 



APPENDIX. 



[no. VII, 



the sake of conscience, of wanting the common necessaries of 
life. As I have the tract of Mr. Clerke, upon which Bishop Bull 
made animadversions, 1 compared them together many years ago, 
and I find this observation in a vacant space before the title page, 
" The famous Bull wrote animadversions upon this treatise, but 
he has left many arguments without the least appearance of an 
answer, which strongly support the Unitarian cause; this cause 
indeed is founded upon such powerful evidence, as cannot be 
overthrown by the wit of man." I am inclined to judge, that 
Bull saw something which he could not answer, and this raised 
his indignation. I entirely agree with Mr. Clerke, that Bull, in 
the last section of his Defence, relative to the subordination, had 
yielded great part of the question up to the Unitarians or, rather, 
had given it quite up. Subordination, in any sense, absolutely 
demolishes the Athanasian system. All that appears of Mr. 
Philip Gibbs is, that as he had been bred up in the Calvinistic 
plan, upon a more exact examination of Scripture, and the study 
of the best authors, he became an Unitarian, and gave up pre- 
destination, original sin, &c. In consequence of his conviction, 
he addressed a letter to his congregation, wherein he openly and 
fairly delivered his sentiments : upon which they desired him 
to withdraw peaceably from their communion. He was after- 
ward taken into partnership with a considerable tradesman, and 
died within a few years in that station. 

Be pleased to return my best respects to Dr. Price, for taking 
in good part what I thought might prove useful to his design. 
But I find a disinclination in many learned persons to give up 
the divine prescience. Crellius, I really think, has argued the 
point with sagacity and deep penetration, and has stated the 
case in such a guarded manner, as not to break in upon om- 
niscience itself, when understood in a perfectly rational sense ; 
and has likewise made it consistent with prophecies delivered in 
the Old and New Testament. I did not translate the whole 
chapter, but am of opinion that the whole deserves the careful 
perusal of curious Beraeans. I perused several years ago with 
peculiar satisfaction Dr. Price's Review of the principal Ques- 
tions and Difficulties of Morals, and likewise his four Disserta- 
tions. I objected only to one sentence in his dissertation on 
Providence, which it is not necessary to mention, as it has been 
taken notice of by ethers; and the Doctor, I dare say, can guess 
at my meaning. I gave my hearty assent to his Political Trea- 
tise, published at a seasonable time, well calculated to answer 
those purposes the worthy author had in view, and which, I be- 
lieve, have been eventually answered. I sincerely wish him joy 
of his success. Upon the whole I ought to acknowledge with 
gratitude^ that I have received considerable improvement and 



NO. VII.] 



APPENDIX. 



397 



much rational pleasure from the excellent writings of Dr. Price, 
which have engaged my attention, but am not qualified to form 
a proper judgement of that part of them which are taken up in 
curious and nice calculations, as being deficient in that branch 
of science. I must beg the favour of you to express my parti- 
cular satisfaction to Dr. Priestley, for the very candid observa- 
tion he has made on our difference of sentiments, which shews 
a disposition to promote peace and harmony among Christians, 
and possiblv an uniform agreement in some grand and essential 
points through the whole Christian world. If Dr. Priestley judges 
that there is no real difference betwixt him and Dr. Price, the 
same thing may be said of myself, as, unless I am mistaken, we 
are very nearly of the same sentiments. I certainly have ex- 
pressed myself in a way different from that of Dr. Priestley, 
with regard to some opinions he has published, and at the same 
time have esteemed him for several of his practical treatises, 
which have fallen in my way. I sincerely believe that he is well 
disposed to promote the cause of natural and revealed religion, 
which plainly appears from his tracts on that subject, and which 
I had an opportunity of reading some time ago with satisfaction. 
I am a stranger to his philosophical discoveries and disquisitions, 
as having never acquired any thing farther than a superficial 
knowledge of that science, which he has so happily cultivated 
and improved. I heartily wish him success in all his commend- 
able undertakings : philosophy, when in the hands of a truly 
religious and ingenious person, has a natural tendency to display 
the glory of the One Supreme God and Father of all. You 
guess right about the book relative to the controversy of neces- 
sity betwixt Dr. Price and Dr. Priestley, it not being in my pos- 
session, and so should be glad to accept of your kind offer. 
With respect to Dr. Priestley's present undertaking, by that little 
acquaintance I had formerly with the primitive fathers, I am 
induced to believe that the Doctor will be able to prove his point 
to the satisfaction of unprejudiced inquirers. 

It gives me peculiar satisfaction, that any thing I haye done 
relating to the book of Exodus has your approbation : onlv I 
would observe, that your candid opinion of the author has pre- 
vailed upon you to pass a too favourable sentence. I thought it 
right to speak my mind freely of Dr. Kennicott's short attempt 
to please the reputed orthodox, and presume he could not have 
taken it amiss, if he had been alive. You are so very obliging 
as to think of mentioning my name among the worthies, if your 
very useful work should come to a second edition, which I heartily 
wish it may for the public good ; but I make this request, that, 
if upon a review you should judge it improper in any respect to 
mention my name, you would suppress it. I am very much 



398 



APPENDIX. 



[no. \ 11, 



concerned to hem of Dr. Jebb's precarious state of health ; but 
you express some hopes that he may get the better of it, which 
I sincerely wish may prove the case. You tell me great news 
concerning the Bishops : surely a review will be attempted at 
last, and possibly I may have the pleasure of seeing something 
actually done in the glorious cause before I die, though far ad- 
vanced in years, 

I am, dear Sir, with my kind respects to Mrs. Lindsey, Doctor 
and Mrs. Disney, Doctor and Mrs. Jebb, 

Your very affectionate friend, and 

deeply obliged humble servant, 

W. Hopkins. 

FROM THE SAME, AND MARKED BY MR. LINDSEY, ee THE 
EXCELLENT MR. HOPKINS'S LAST LETTER." 
DEAR GOOD SIR, Cuckfield, December 17, 1/85. 

I hope to be able to send you some sort of answer to your 
very kind and christian letter, which { received the last post. 

With respect to my scruples relating to church matters, they 
are entirely removed by your determination. Your solicitous 
concern for my welfare is very engaging, and which you have 
plainly shown by procuring for me a very handsome present from 
a worthy member of the Society. I accept of it with grateful 
thanks, as my imprudent son has very much wasted my substance 
by his vicious extravagance; but still 1 am provided with a de- 
cent support by proper management. I will take care to employ 
a person some day next week to call at your house for the gene- 
rous gift. And as you think my name may be something in the 
Society book, though a poor something, I revoke my design of 
having it struck out, and refer the time of my little payment to 
you and the Society. 

I cannot conclude without taking notice, that your charity in- 
duces you to entertain a more favourable opinion than I really 
deserve; neither ought I to put myself upon a footing with such 
worthy persons as yourself, who have maintained an unblemished 
character all their lives; that of a poor humble penitent is all 
that I can justly claim. 

May the One Supreme God and Father of all give a blessing 
and success to all your sincere endeavours to promote the cause 
of his true religion, and likewise those of your worthy associates ! 
and may all possible success attend the Christian Society which 
you have formed for the same excellent purpose! which is the 
earnest prayer of, 

Good sir, 

Your highly obliged friend, and humble servant, 

W. Hopkins. 



NO, IX.] 



APPENDIX. 



399 



No. IX. 

P. Courayer to the Rev. T. Lindsey. 

DEAR MR. LINDSEY*, A Percy Ledge, ce 29 Septembre, Mul. 

JE suis charme que votre progres dans la langue Francoise 
vous rende ma recommandation inutile. Car par vous m&W* 
vous saurez assez vous recommander a ceux avec qui vous ferez 
connoissance. La science et la bonne conduite sont un excellent 
passe-par-tout aupres de tons les honnetes gens. 

Quoi que je ne puisne convenir avec Mr. de St. Perne que ma 
retraite ait ete une perte pour personne, je suis persuade, cormne 
hji, que si j'etois reste en France je n'y aurois pu demeurer sans 
m'exposer a de grandes diffteultez et a quelques dangers; et 
quelque mortification que j'aye eu a souftrir en quittant une 
societe et un pais ou je vivois avec agrement et satisfaction, je 
ne me repens point de cette demarche, qui m'a dedommage de 
ce que j'ai perdu par les avantages que j'ai retrouvez ici, et qui 
a mis ma conscience a couvert des troubles et des tentations aux 
quelles elle auroit ete exposee en demeurant dans ma patrie. 

Rien n'est plus triste, comme vous l'observez, que de voir 
les hommes se persecuter pour des opinions sur des points ob- 
scurs, dont la decision est aussi incertaine que le sont les points 
memes en question, et qui d'ailleurs n'ont que tres peu d'infh.:- 
ence sur les mceurs et la conduite des hommes. Mais on vent 
dominer sur la foi des autres; et lameme ambition qui porte les 
princes a etendre leurs clomaines, engage les theologiens a vou- 
loir faire regner leurs opinions. C'est un mal aussi ancien que 
le monde, et il y a long terns que, comme l'a dit un ancien, 
Fhomme se comporte en bete feroee a l'egard des autres: homo 
homini lupus. Que faire pour remedier a ce mal ? En gemir 
devant Dieu, lui demander la grace de changer le cceur des hom- 
mes, et de les ramener a des sentimens plus eclairez, censurer 
cet esprit de domination quand l'occasion se presente de le faire 
avec utilite, et si on ne peut reformer les autres, s'eloigner soi 
meme d'une pareille disposition, et laisser la liberte a chacun de 
suivre ses propres luinieres en conservant 1'esprit d'union et de 
charite qui fait proprement l'essence de la religion. 

La demande que vous me faites est si vague que je ne saurois 
pour cette fois y repondre. Vous me priez de vous faire con- 
noitre quelques petit? traitez que vous puissiez vous procurer. 
Je ne sais ce que vous entendez par la. Sont-ce des traites de 
piete, ou de controverse, ou de belles lettres ? Sont-ce ou des 
ouvrages de morale ou des sermons, ou simplement des ouvrages 
d'esprit? Pardonnez moi de ne rien repondre a une demande 
qui est trop gene'rale pour que je puisse y satisfaire. 

* Kio in the original. 



400 



APPENDIX. 



[no. IX, 



JVi pris part comme toute la France a la naissance du Due 
de Bourgogne. Je crois meme que e'est un bien pour toute 
l'Europe, qu'un defaut de succession pourroit rengager dans une 
guerre generate. Mon exil ne me rend point insensible aux 
avantages de ma patrie. Mais comme ce n'est pas tout d'avoir 
un prince a moins qu'il ne soit bon, mes vceux presentement se 
bornent a en souhaiter un qui fasse le bonheur de son royaume, 
et qui rende ses peuples aussi heureux que sa naissance leur 
donne de satisfaction. 

Apres quatre mois de sejour a Percy Lodge, je m'en retourne 
cette semaine k Londres. J'ai la satisfaction de laisser la Du- 
chesse en assez bonne sante. Je lui en sonhaite la continuation, 
d'autant plus que d'elle depend le support et la subsistance de 
bien des pauvres aux besoins desquels sa charite fournit. 

Je ne sais si je dois vous faire mes complimens sur les benefices 
que My Lord Northumberland vous offre. Le plus considerable 
n'est qu'un depot, que je ne regarde pas trop comme legitime, 
et que nous regardons en France comme une sorte de simonie. 
L'autre ne vous donne qu'une simple subsistance, et vous m'avez 
souvent avoue que vous ne vous contenteriez pas d'une cure qui 
ne vous donnat pas de quoi fournir aux pauvres dont vous seriez 
charge. Ainsi j'attens que vous ayez pris votre resolution pour 
savoir si je dois vous en feliciter. 

Mr. Cowslad vous fait ses complimens, quoi qu'il soit en 
colere que vous ne lui ayez pas envoye la recette de la creme 
de Blois qu'il vous avoit demandee. Mes tendres amities a 
Mr. de St. Perne, et mes complimens a My Lord Warkworth, 
a qui je soubaite la continuation de sa sante. 

Comme je suppose que la Duchesse vous mande les nouvelles 
courantes, je ne me charge point de ce detail. II n'est question 
pour moi que de m'entretenir dans votre souvenir, et de vous 
demander la continuation de votre amitie. Personne ne la 
merite mieux, s'il suffit pour la meriter d'avoir pour vous autanfc 
d'estime et d'attachement que j'en ai. II ne tiendra qu'a vous 
de me fournir quelque occasion de vous en donner des preuves, 
et de vous convaincre que personne n'est plus sincerement, 
Mon cher ami, 

Votre ties humble et 

tie? obeissant serviteur, 

P. fr. Le Courayer, 

A Monsieur 
Monsieur Lindsey. 



NO. X.] 



APPENDIX. 



401 



No. X. 

From William Wells, Esq. of Boston in New England, 
to the Author. 

MY DEAR SIR, Boston, March 21, 1812. 

1 am glad to hear you received the sermons safe. About six 
weeks ago I forwarded to Mr. Freme a parcel for you, contain- 
ing the first No. of <c The General Repository and Review. " 
For this you are indebted to Mr. B. I think a letter from him 
accompanied the Review, but am not sure, as 1 took no memo- 
randum of the contents of the parcel. A second number will 
shortly appear, which shall be forwarded by the earliest oppor- 
tunity. I believe I mentioned in my last the name of the editor, 
Mr. Norton, an excellent young man. Of his abilities you will 
be able to judge. I think the first article, and the review of the 
Horsleian and Priestleian controversy display a soundness of 
judgement which at his age is rare. A number of young men 
who have taken their bachelor's degree now reside at Cambridge 
as theological students. Several of them are the sons of men of 
fortune, some, as far as I can judge, of superior talents ; and all 
are pursuing their professional studies with a zeal which is well 
directed by the very worthy and learned Dr. Ware, professor of 
divinity, and Dr. Kirkland the president, and an honesty which 
is entirely unfettered and unbiassed by any system whatever. 
We have to contend here, as you in England, for the first prin- 
ciples of protestantism, but I see no reason to fear that the en- 
suing generation will be destitute of able champions for the right 
of private judgement. 

With regard to the progress of Unitarianism, 1 have but little 
to say. Its tenets have spread very extensively in New England, 
but I believe there is only one church professedly Unitarian. 
The churches at Portland and Saco, of which you speak, hardly 
ever saw the light, and exist no longer. The Mr. Thacher who 
was formerly a member of Congress, and the Judge T. whom 
Mr. Merrick mentions, are the same. He is one of the Judges 
of our Supreme Court, an excellent man and most zealous Uni- 
tarian. He is now on the circuit in this town, and tells me he 
is obliged on Sunday to stay at home, or to hear a Calvinistic 
minister. He is no relation to our friend. 

Most of our Boston clergy and respectable laymen (of whom 
we have many enlightened theologians) are Unitarian. Nor do 
they think it at all necessary to conceal their sentiments upon 
these subjects, but express them without the least hesitation 
when they judge it proper. I may safely say, the general habit 
of thinking and speaking upon this question in Boston, is Uni- 
tarian. At the same time the controversy is seldom or never 



402 



APPENDIX. 



[NO. X. 



introduced into the pulpit. I except the Chapel church. If 
publications make their appearance attacking Unitarian senti- 
ments, they are commonly answered with spirit and ability ; but 
the majority of those who are Unitarian are perhaps of these 
sentiments, without, any distinct consciousness of being so. Like 
the first Christians, finding no sentiments but those in the N.T. 
and not accustomed to hear the language of the N. T. strained 
and warped by theological system-makers, they adopt naturally 
a just mode of thinking. 

This state of things appears to me so favourable to the dis- 
semination of correct sentiments, that I should perhaps regret a 
great degree of excitement in the public mind upon these sub- 
jects. The majority would eventually be against us. The ig- 
norant, the violent, the ambitious, and the cunning, would carry 
the multitude with them in religion as they do in politics. One 
Dr. M., in a contest for spreading his own sentiments among 
the great body of the people, would, at least for a time, beat 
ten Priestleys. Not to dwell upon the consideration, that Uni- 
tarianism consists rather in not believing; and that it is more 
easy to gain proselytes to absurd opinions, than to make men 
zealous in refusing to believe, with what arms, when the ol nohXoi 
are the judges, can virtue and learning and honour contend with 
craft and cunning and equivocation and falsehood and intolerant 
zeal ? Learning is worse than useless, virtue is often diffident 
of her own conclusions, and, at any rate, more anxious to render 
men good Christians, than to make them Christians of her own 
denomination; and that self-respect, which is the companion of 
virtue, disdains to meet the low cunning of her adversaries, or to 
flatter the low prejudices of her judges. I think then it must be 
assumed as an axiom, that a persevering controversy upon this 
question would render the multitude bigoted and persecuting 
Calvinists. Then come systems and catechisms in abundance. 
Every conceited deacon, every parishioner who has, or thinks he 
has, a smattering in theology, becomes the inquisitor of his pas- 
tor. In such circumstances learning and good sense have no 
chance. They cannot even be heard. 

The violent party here have chosen to meet their opponents 
upon very unfavourable ground. Instead of making it a cause 
of orthodoxy against heresy, they have very unwisely preferred 
to insist upon a subscription to articles of faith. This has given 
great offence to many who are disposed to be in favour of their 
creed, and thrown them into the opposite scale. Dr. Osgood 
is really orthodox in sentiment, but a noble and determined sup- 
porter of the right of private judgement, and on the best pos- 
sible terms with our Boston friends. This is also the case with 
the venerable Dr. Lathrop of West-Springfield, Mr. Palmer's 



NO. XI.] 



APPENDIX. 



403 



friend, and many others. In short, we are now contending for 
the liherty of being Protestants. If we can persuade the people 
(and we stand upon advantageous ground) that we have the 
right to think upon religious subjects as our consciences and 
the scriptures direct, things will go on very well. Learning, 
good sense, and virtue will then produce their natural effects ; 
and just modes of thinking upon subjects of this nature, as upon 
all others, will necessarily prevail. 

Will you, my dear Sir, excuse my unintentional prolixity? 
I do not know that you will approve my sentiments, nor am I 
very confident of their justness; but I have seen the contest 
between truth and falsehood, before the multitude', between 
every thing which is respectable, and every thing which is detest- 
able, so unequal in politics, that I dread the event in matters of 
religion. Still I would be no advocate for timidity, much less 
for any thing like equivocation or evasion; and it must be con- 
fessedj that prudence often degenerates into these vices. 
I remain, dear Sir, 

with the greatest esteem, 

Yours affectionately, 
To the Rev. Thomas Belsham. W. WELLS, J UN. 



No. XI. 

From the Rev. Thomas Fyshe Palmer, to Mr. Lindsey; 
giving some account of his treatment on board the 
Surprize transport. 

MY DEAR SIR, ' N. S. Wales, Sydney, Sept. 15, 1795. 

It was with inexpressible pleasure that I again saw your hand- 
writing; receiving your letter and parcel of books safe, for which 
I am much obliged to you. I long to read with attention the 
Commentary on the Revelation, which I believe will nearly (from 
a hasty glimpse of it) meet my own ideas. I am happy to find 
that my edition of Elwall is in the hands of a person who will 
give them away: it was printed for that very purpose, nor must 
I allow your kind partiality to frustrate it. 

I must begin with telling you that we have all enjoyed unin- 
terrupted health, excepting that landing with weak eyes, and 
using them very much at the time, the common malady of the 
climate has ever since grievously affected them, so that I have 
been obliged to give over reading and writing. But they are now 
considerably better. 

By this time you will, I imagine, have received the dismal nar- 
rative of my sufferings on board the Surprize ; the master of which 

2d2 



404 



APPENDIX. 



[NO. XI. 



accused me and Mr. Skirving of hiring people to murder him and 
the principal officers. He pitched on some unhappy people as 
our associates, and what he made them and us endure is hardly 
to be credited. It must have been more than human help which 
supported me. One week of it at any other time would have 
dispatched me. In the torrid zone when 1 could not bear the 
covering of my shirt, Mr. Skirving and I were shut up in a box 
six feet square, and not suffered to pass the threshold. At night, 
as a vast indulgence, we w T ere separated, and I laid in a bed not 
merely wet but soaked through with salt water and rain, which 
my tyrant would not permit me or my friends to dry. The pie- 
tended associates were much worse treated ; every cruelty and 
every artifice were employed to make them accuse us. They 
were flogged, and illegally reduced to half allowance. They were 
loaded with sixty pounds weight of irons, and all chained to an 
iron bar and exposed on the poop all weather, in that dreadful 
temperature. When I landed, six or seven people went volun- 
tarily to a magistrate, and swore that C. offered them great re- 
wards if they would swear that I and Mr. Skirving hired them to 
murder him and the principal officers, that he held a pistol in his 
hand and threatened to shoot some if they did not, and to treat 
them as we traitors were. The whole of this I have entrusted to 
Mr. White, principal surgeon of the settlement, who went home 
in the Daedalus in December last. I believe I should have fallen 
before my inhuman tyrant, had it not been for the courageous 
and active friendship of James Ellis and Mr. Boston, the young 
man I wrote to you about, and his wife. They were threatened 
with irons, even Mrs. Boston 3 and when Mr. Boston landed, 
C. blasted all his prospects by accusing him of jacobinism and 

drinking destruction to the K . This last was proved to be 

an infamous falsehood. They gave another signal proof of their 
friendship. Somehow or other their knowledge of the arts was 
spread abroad at Rio de Janeiro, and the Viceroy paid them every 
attention, kept a splendid table for them, had a man of rank to 
attend them, set them to work, and, when convinced of their abi- 
lity, offered them any sum to set up in business, and 300/. per 
annum each to settle at Rio. They firmly rejected the offer 
(though both were without a shilling), and every solicitation made 
use of for their compliance, as it was their firm belief that C. 
would have murdered me in their absence. After such kindness 
it followed of course that we lived together, and that they shared 
what I had. It was fortunate for them that I had something left 
from the plunder of C. and his crew. The destructive and op- 
pressive monopoly of the military officers forbad every one to pur- 
chase of the ships that came to this harbour. The military offi- 
cers alone bought, and resold to all the colony at 1000 per cent. 



NO. XI c] 



APPENDIX. 



405 



profit, and often more. They firmly, but in guarded language, 
insisted on the rights of British subjects to carry on any t rade, 
not prohibited, in one of His Majesty's harbours. This irritated 
the whole governing despotic power of the settlement against 
them. They were refused a grant, servants, and never employed, 
though, by making salt and curing fish, they could have saved the 
colony from a famine, Where every thing is so immensely dear, 
you may guess that it has laid heavy on me ; but my money could 
not have been so well employed. The worst is over. They ma- 
nufacture beer, vinegar, salt, soap, &c. for sale, I have a farm. 
But, above all, Governor Hunter, who is, I hear from all hands, 
a good man, and their friend, is arrived, and the despotism and 
infamous monopolies of the last government are no more. 

The clergyman here, Mr. Johnson, is a most dutiful son of the 
church of England, thinking it to be the best constituted church 
In the world. He is a Moravian methodist, and was bred, I be- 
lieve, at Magdalen, Cambridge. I believe him to be a very good, 
pious, inoffensive man. None of our household ever have heard 
him, though I confess I could have heard him yesterday with plea- 
sure. It was the first Sunday after Governor Hunter's arrival. 
He exposed the last government, their extortion, their despot- 
ism, their debauchery and ruin of the colony, driving it almost to 
famine by the sale of liquors at 1200 per cent, profit. He con- 
gratulated the colony at the abolition of a military government, 
and the restoration of a civil one, and of the laws. Orders are 
this day, Tuesday, given out, that no officer shall sell any more 
liquor. 

I rejoice to hear of the safety, the care, and the reception of 
Dr. Priestley, and the door of usefulness opened to him in 
America. 

I have sealed up my letter to Mr. Rutt. I must therefore de- 
sire you to get our mutual friend Dyer to tell him that I have re- 
ceived his letter of June 23d, and the parcel of newspapers and 
pamphlets, and especially the highly interesting (to us) Reports 
of the Secret Committee, sent to the care of Mr. Johnson. He 
must tell him that I am overwhelmed with his goodness, and only 
fear that I shall not show myself sufficiently deserving of it. 
He must know that Mr. Muir lives with me, and that he, Skir- 
ving, and I live in great cordiality; our houses at Sydney are con- 
tiguous, as also our farms in the country. 

I have written by every conveyance, and by the last to Dr. 
Disney, to whom and Mrs. Disney I must beg to be particularly 
remembered. Mrs. Lindsey will accept of my best regard ; her 
spectacles often recall her to my mind. 

Farewell, dear Sir. I hope it is reserved for me to see you 



406 APPENDIX. [NO. XII. 

again in this state ; and I earnestly pray never to be separated 
from you in the next. 

I am your affectionate and obliged 

Thos. Fyshe Palmer. 

To the Rev. Mr. Lindsey, 

Essex-street, London. 

No. XII. 

Select Extracts from the Letters of Dr. Priestley to Mr. 
Lindsey, and from Thomas Jefferson, Eso A . President 
of the United States, to Dr. Priestley. 

FROM DR. PRIESTLEY. 

Birmingham, Aug. 26, 1/89. 

The Archdeacon had indeed an euthanasia, and I find his friend 
the Bishop of Carlisle died about the same time, and at about 
the same age. They have been useful men in their day, and you 
justly observe none are without their failings, and least of all great 
minds. This I see confirmed, and I am sorry to see it so much 
so, in Beausobre's History of the Reformation, which I have read 
through with peculiar satisfaction. Luther had great defects 
indeed, and of a very disagreeable kind ; especially envy, and dis- 
like of other reformers. He wished all to follow him, and was 
angry if they went one step farther. His behaviour to Carlostadt 
and Zuinglius, &c. is inexcusable. But he had great and good 
qualities notwithstanding, and would, I doubt not, have been an 
intrepid martyr. Beausobre is far more satisfactory than Slei- 
dan, but I am sorry that he goes no farther than the year 1530. 
He certainly meant to have written more. The last volume is 
particularly interesting 

In a letter from Mr. Palmer in Scotland, you will see that he 
corresponds with Mr. Robinson, of Cambridge, as an avowed 
Unitarian. But he ought to make a public declaration, after 
what he has written 

FROM THE SAME. 

Birmingham, Oct. 3, 1 789. 
At my return I found a letter from Mr. Tayleur, with a bill of 
150 pounds for the expencesof my Ecclesiastical History. I told 
him I apprehended it would be considerably too much, and that 
I should consult with you, and did not doubt we should dispose 
of the overplus to his satisfaction. I send you the letter and bill, 
which I wish you would put into the hands of Mr. Chambers, who, 
as usual, will give a receipt, and allow interest for it. How un- 



NO. XII.] 



APPENDIX* 



407 



bouiidedly generous Mr. Tayleur is ! I may well afford to give 

my books, when they are paid for beforehand. Before I took 

my journey I ordered 25 copies of mv History of Early Opinions 
to be sent to you. I am told they were immediately sent by a 
waggon that goes to the Castle and Falcon, Aldersgate-street. 
You say nothing about the parcel, and therefore it has not been 
delivered. I am really desirous of giving a great part of the im- 
pression. I cannot consider them as my property, and only wish 
to place them where they may be of the most use. 

You will be pleased to be informed, that at Manchester I met 
with two Unitarian street-preachers, men of good sense and great 
zeal, who had read hardly any thing besides the Bible, nothing 
of mine or yours. They are Baptists, and 14 in number; not 
more than two months' standing. One of them had been in Mr. 
Wesley's connection. As they had hired a building for their 
meetings in the winter, and were at expense in travelling to 
preach in the neighbouring towns, &c. I gave them five guineas. 
They are all working men. I was exceedingly pleased with their 
conversation. They told me of another society of the same kind 
in York of 60 members ; and others are forming in different 
places. Young Mr. Toulmin was with me, and gave them some 
of my small pieces; and I promised to send them other books. 
The name of one of them was John Laycock, and the other 

Burton. Two others of their friends were also preachers. 

They spake with great fluency and propriety 

FROM THE SAME. 

Birmingham, May 24, 1790. 

I greatly admire Mr. 's spirit and zeal, but I cannot 

approve of his plan. Neither Christianity nor the Reformation 
was carried on in that way, but more silently and naturally, like 
the growth of corn, to which our Saviour compared the former. 
So ostentatious a method of proceeding would engage our oppo- 
nents in similar measures, and excite a spirit of party, which is 
hostile to free inquiry. Besides, the relief of sufferers, publicly 
held out, would draw endless claimants, to whom no satisfaction 
could be given. Assistance in particular and well-known cases 
may still be given, books may be distributed, and lay preachers, 
who want but little money, may be encouraged, without making 
much noise. The very apparatus and correspondence necessary 

for such a scheme as Mr. 's would alone be very expensive, 

and the same money may be much better employed. .... 



408 



APPENDIX. 



[NO. XII. 



FROM THE SAME. 
DEAR FRIEND, Birmingham, June 11, 1790. 

We have had a melancholy scene here since I wrote last. Mr. 
Robinson, who preached our charity sermon on Sunday last, was 
found dead in his bed on Wednesday morning at Mr. Russell's. 
He was much enfeebled in body and mind, but had been bent on 
taking the journey, and exerting himself to the utmost. His dis- 
order the physicians call angina pectoris. Two nights he was 
with me, and on Monday evening he had a fit, from which I 
thought he would hardly have recovered. However, he was much 
better the next day, when he dined with Mr. Hawkes, and, after 
dinner, was in remarkably good spirits, and entertained us with 
many stories and anecdotes. He ate a hearty supper, and went 
to bed seemingly in good health ; but it was evident that he had 
another fit soon after he went to bed, and that he expired in it, 
for he was almost cold at nine o'clock the next morning. 

He was by no means fit to preach; and though he was not at 
a loss for words, he rambled into many things quite foreign to the 
subject, dwelling much on Unitariapism at both meetings, though 
they were different sermons. He used no notes, I have com- 
posed a sermon on the occasion of his death, which I shall preach 
next Sunday, We expect letters or messengers from Cambridge, 
but expect to bury him here. 

I am very glad that you propose to omit the Creed, and to 
make a discourse on the occasion. Your example will give a 
sanction to the measure every where else. Mr. Robinson said he 
never felt so sensible a relief to his mind as when he read what I 
published on the Miraculous Conception. He had always doubt- 
ed the story, but never ventured to mention his suspicion to any 
body. 

He was correcting some of the last sheets of his History of Bap- 
tism, which, I dare say, will be a curious and valuable work. 
Yours and Mrs. Lindsey's most affectionately, 

J. Priestley. 

FROM THE SAME. 
DEAR FRIEND, Birmingham, June 24, 1790. 

You will see by the inclosed that I will not publish the Sermon 
till I hear from the family. I beg therefore that you would take 
back those I sent you, or take the trouble to deliver the altera- 
tions I may have occasion to make in it. 

It is evident that Mr. Robinson, though an Unitarian, did npt 
wish to incur the odium of it with all his old friends. 

I want to know how Mr. Dodson goes on with his translation 
of the Prophets. I stick close to my part, and hope to have 



NO. XII. J 



APPENDIX. 



409 



finished all that is essential before you come, at the end of the 
next month, or the middle of it. I do a certain quantity per dav. 
We must make a point of dispatching the whole this year. I .shall 
see Mr. B., and talk to him about his part. I shall also write to 
Mr. F., and give him any help that he may want. My method 
is to paste paper to the margin of a quarto Bible, and make the 
alterations there. This I think better, on every account, than to 
write the whole, and especially much easier to those who exa- 
mine it. 

Yours and Mrs. Lindsey's most affectionately, 

J. PRIESTLEY. 

FROM THE SAME. 

Birmingham, June 26, 1/90. 
I send you with this a few copies of my Sermon for Mr. Ro- 
binson, to be disposed of as presents to whom you please. Do not 
forget Mr. Radcliffe. None will be sold in London or Cambridge 
till it has been seen by the family, and they allow the account 
given of Mr. Robinson. There can be no doubt of his change of 
sentiment, whether it should appear in his writings or not. He 
had been a cautious man, and forbore to announce his change 
of opinion to his congregation ; but I hope he never deceived 
them. The letter in the preface is Mr. C.'s, his son-in-law, the 
same that called upon you. There was however something I can-? 
not account for with respect to his former opinion of the divinity 
of Christ, unless he hold the indwelling scheme. For he said in 
my hearing, he always thought the doctrine of the Trinity an ab- 
surdity. On this supposition, however, I cannot vindicate his 
writing that book. I hear he was uncommonly eager to read your 
Reply. It was brought by Mr. C. before your present of it arrived, 
and he sat up all night to read it, and was much agitated by it. 
He was also more affected than he ought to have been by the re- 
ception he met with among his old friends after his change of 
opinion was known. When Mr. Hobson, who was an old ac- 
quaintance of his, first saw him, he said, ie They have killed 
me and he complained to me, that among all his former friends 
in London he had only two subscribers to his book. He had no 
doubt been too fond of popularity, which is too often the case 
with those who have the power of being so. However, his well 
known change of sentiment cannot fail to have a considerable 
effect. 

FROM THE SAME. 

Birmingham, July 6, 1790. 
Mr. Robinson certainly died a natural death, but not so I be- 
lieve Mr. Silas Deane. Mr. W. Wilkinson says he always talked 
of taking laudanum in extremity, and doubts not but he did it, 



410 



APPENDIX. 



[no. XII. 



He had the greatest aversion to going to America with less honour 
than he left it; and though he had nothing to fear, he was poor, 
and would have been overlooked. He had lived a very licentious 
life at Paris : but Mr. Wilkinson says he spent almost all he was 
worth to purchase arms for the Americans, and was never repaid. 

FROM THE SAME. 

Birmingham, July 22, 1/90. 
If you see Mr. Dodson, tell him it will by no means do to re- 
print either Blayney or Bishop Newcome, as we must keep much 
nearer to the phraseology of the present version than they do. We 
must content ourselves with departing from it only for the sake 
of some real improvement. I have now gone once through the 
Psalms and Proverbs, and I will undertake Daniel and the minor 
prophets, if he will do Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Or, as I have 
more than six months before me, and I am determined to make 
this my principal business, I can very well do the whole ; and if 
you think so, you need not say any thing to him ; or tell him that 
I shall undertake it if he has not leisure, or that he may take 
what he pleases, and leave me the rest. I fear some quaintness 
in his style, and we must avoid every thing of the kind, as we 
shall be laughed at. 

LETTERS FROM DR. PRIESTLEY TO MR. LINDSEY SOON AFTER HIS 
ARRIVAL IN AMERICA. 

No. 1. 

DEAR FRIEND, New York, June 15, 1/94. 

We have now been here near a fortnight, and I begin to expect 
to hear from you, which is the greatest satisfaction that I expect 
in this country. But I sometimes think that every thing here is 
so promising, and every thing with you so threatening, that per- 
haps even you and Mrs. Lindsey may be induced to end your 
days with us. To accomplish this, I should at any time come 
over and fetch you. Indeed, the difference between the aspect 
of things here and with you is not to be expressed. I feel as if 
I were in another world. I never before could conceive how sa- 
tisfactory it is to have the feeling I now have from a sense of per- 
fect security and liberty, all men having equal rights and privi- 
leges, and speaking and acting as if they were sensible of it. Here 
are no beggars to be seen, and families are easily maintained by 
any kind of labour ; and whether it be the effect of general liber- 
ty, or some other cause, I find many more clever men, men ca- 
pable of conversing with propriety and fluency on all subjects re- 
lating to government, than I have met with any where in Eng- 
land. I have seen many of the .members of Congress on their 



NO. XII.] 



APPENDIX. 



411 



return from it, and, without exception, they seem to he men of 
first-rate ability, though some of them plain in their manners. 
With respect to myself the difference is great indeed. In England 
I was an object of the greatest aversion to every person connect - 
ed with government ; whereas here they are those who show me 
the most respect. With you the Episcopal church is above every 
thing. In this city it makes a decent figure, but the Presbyte- 
rians are much above them, and the Governor (Clinton), who is 
particularly attentive to me, goes to the meeting-house. 

But the preachers, though all civil to me, look upon me with 
dread, and none of them has asked me to preach in their pulpits. 
This, however, does them no good. Several persons express a wish 
to hear me, and are ashamed of the illiberality of the preachers, 
and some are avowed Unitarians ; so that I am fully persuaded 
an Unitarian minister, of prudence and good sense, might do 
very well here. If I were here a Sunday or two more 1 would 
make a beginning, and 1 intend to return for this purpose. The 
greatest difficulty arises from the indifference of liberal-minded 
men as to religion in general; they are so much occupied with com- 
merce and politics. One man of proper spirit would be sufficient 
to establish a solid Unitarian interest; and I am persuaded it will 
soon be done. As I am much attended to, and my writings, 
which are in a manner unknown here, begin to be inquired after, 
I will get my small pamphlets immediately printed here ; and 
wherever I can get an invitation to preach I will go. With this 
view I shall carefully avoid all the party politics of the country, 
and have no other object besides religion and philosophy. Phi- 
ladelphia will be a more favourable situation than this, and there 
I shall make a beginning. It will be better, however, to wait a 
little time, and not show much zeal at the first : and as my com- 
ing here is much talked of, I shall reprint my Fast and Farewell 
Sermons. 

As it may serve to amuse you and Mrs. Lindsey, I will inclose 
copies of some Addresses, and my answers ; and also some letters 
from persons who are of a party opposite to the addressers, but 
equally friendly to me ; and I find I have given as much satisfac- 
tion to them by the caution I have observed in my answeis, as 
to the addressers, who, however, 1 believe, are now well satisfied 
that I do not openly join any of their societies, though at first I 
am informed they were very desirous of it. The parties are the 
Federalists and Anti-federalists : the former meaning the friends 
of the present system, with a leaning to that of England, and 
friendship with her; the latter wishing for some improvements, 
leaning to the French system, and rather wishing for war. With 
a little more irritation the latter will certainly prevail. They are 
now, I believe, by far the most numerous, especially in the conn- 



412 



APPENDIX. 



[no. XII. 



try, though the other prevail in the towns, especially here. The 
people of Vermont on the one hand, and those of Kentucky on 
the other, can hardly he restrained from falling on the English and 
Spanish settlements, and the latter particularly seem disposed to 
break off from the Union rather than not have their way. 

The exchange is so greatly in favour of the drawer (near nine 
per cent.) that I am drawing for most of my money in England, 
On Mr. Chambers I have drawn for 300/. which is very nearly 
what I have in his hands, and I have told him that the small dif- 
ference on either side he may settle with you. On Mr. Johnson 
I have drawn for 50/. I wish you would mention this to them, 
lest the letters miscarry. 

As Dr. Disney desired mc to write to him, and I had a parcel 
to deliver for him to Bishop Prevost. I inclose the letter for him 
in this packet to you. I have also written to Mr. Belsham, whom 
I hope, some time or other, to draw hither. He will teli you my 
scheme. But as I am going to Philadelphia, I shall soon know 
more on the subject. 

I was never more mortified than I now am at not having with 
me any of my small tracts in defence of the divine unity, as my 
being here leads many persons to wish to read what I have writ- 
ten on the subject. If Mr. Johnson has not sent the box of books 
(chiefly my own publications) that he was to forward to Philadel- 
phia, desire him to do it the first opportunity. I shall reprint 
them, and I flatter myself they will produce a considerable effect. 
Indeed my coming hither promises to be of much more service to 
our cause than I had imagined. But time is necessary, and I am 
apt to be too precipitate. I want your cool judgment. You wait- 
ed patiently a long time in London ; but what an abundant har- 
vest have you had there ! 

Nothing can be more delightful than the wealher is here at 
present, and I do not think the climate will be at all too hot for 
me. I have only two days more to stay here : to-day I dine with 
Mr. Bridges, a friend of Mr. Kemble's, and to-morrow with Ge- 
neral Gates, whom I have seen often, and like very much. I have 
met him frequently, and he is particularly attentive to me, and 
was so to my son before I came. 

With my best respects to Mrs. Rayner and all friends, in which 
my wife joins, 

I am, dear friend, 

Yours and Mrs. Lindsey's most affectionately, 

J. Priestley. 

P. S. When you have done with the Addresses, &c. please to 
forward them to Mr. J. Wilkinson by his banker, Sir B. Hammet. 



NO. XII.] 



APPENDIX. 



413 



No. 2. 

DEAR FRIEND, Philadelphia, June 24, 1 7-94. 

This is my third letter to you. The last was by the Hope, 
from New York. On Thursday last I arrived at this place. Our 
journey was very pleasant, and the aspect of the country better 
than I expected. This city is by no means so agreeable as New 
York ; but, upon the whole, more eligible than any other for my 
residence till our settlement be ready for me. With respect to re- 
ligion, things are exactly in the same state here as in New York. 
Nobody asks me to preach, and I hear there is much jealousy and 
dread of me ; and on the whole I am not sorry for the circum- 
stance, as it offends many who have, on this account, the greater 
desire to hear me ; so that I have little doubt but that I shall 
form a respectable Unitarian society in this place. The alarm of 
the danger of Unitarianism has been sounded so long, that it has 
ceased to be terrific to many; and I stand so well with the coun- 
try in other respects, that I dare say I shall have a fair and can- 
did hearing ; and at my return from the Susquehannah, where I 
propose to go the next week, I believe some place will be prepared 
for me. In the mean time I am printing an edition of my Ap- 
peal and Trial of Elwall, which will be ready, I am told, by the 
next Monday. Part of the impression will be sent to New York, 
where things are in as great forwardness as here. If I do not 
greatly deceive myself, I see a great harvest opening upon me ; 
and there is room for many labourers, but it will require great 
prudence and judgment at first. Also, those that come must not 
be discouraged at first appearances, and be able to support them- 
selves, and at a greater expence than would be necessary in Eng- 
land; and in New York or here, greater than in London itself. 
This unexpected expence makes a great proportion of the emi- 
grants repent of their coming, the women especially, who do not 
easily find any society. Notwithstanding the flattering attention 
that is paid to me, I cannot help sometimes regretting the society 
I had in England. But I am fully satisfied that I did right to 
leave it, and I firmly believe that much good will be done here by 
my removal, and in this I rejoice. 

My wife will find much more difficulty than myself. All people 
complain of the difficulty of getting tolerable servants, and we 
find we acted unwisely in bringing any. The woman, for whose 
passage we paid twelve guineas, behaved in such a manner that 
my wife dismissed her the first week ; and the boy, for whose 
passage we paid the same, and at least ten pounds in fitting out, 
is run away, and, for any thing that we yet know, may have car- 
ried many things with him. We shall know more before night, 
when we shall examine the things that came from New York. 



414 



APPENDIX. 



[no. XII. 



The boy is since found ; lie had taken nothing; but as he was 
bent on going to sea we have let him go. 

I have seen Mr. P., who made a genteel appearance, and gave 
good reasons for his wife not having heard from him. He had 
written : his passage was uncommonly long and unfortunate; and 
then an embargo was laid here on all shipping for England. 

I fear too, that when this was heard of with you, an embargo 
would also be laid on ships going from England to America, and 
that this may be the reason why we have not vet heard from any 
body, and indeed have had no news of any kind from England. 
We must have patience; but we are very anxious to hear what 
passes on the continent of Europe. Here both the Indians and 
the English are making encroachments; and if orders from Eng- 
land do not stop these proceedings, a war will be inevitable ; and 
people in the back settlements are so eager for it, that they can 
hardly be restrained even now. 

Since I wrote the former part of this letter, I have almost de- 
termined to make my residence in Northumberland, and spend 
a few months of the winter in this city. This will on many ac- 
counts be better than living chiefly here. The expence will be 
prodigiously less ; I shall have more leisure for all my pursuits, 
and I shall be, on the whole, of as much use in propagating Uni- 
tarianism, as if I resided constantly in the town. I see so great 
a certainty of planting Unitarianism on this continent, that I 
wish you and Mr. Belsham would be looking out for proper per- 
sons to establish in New York and Philadelphia, and also to sup- 
ply the College, which you may take for granted will be esta- 
blished at the place of my residence. A place of worship is 
building here by a society who call themselves Universalists : they 
propose to leave it open to any sect of Christians three days in 
the week, but they want money to finish it. My friends think to 
furnish them with money, and engage the use of it for Sunday 
mornings. The society itself, I hear, intend to apply to me to 
open it ; which I shall gladly do. A person with a proper spirit 
and prudence may do great things here. Mr. H. was the most 
imprudent of men, and did apparently much harm here; but even- 
tually even that may be for the best. I find I have great advan- 
tages, and I hope to make a good use of them. 

I shall enclose an address to me from the Philosophical Society 
in this place, which is the only one that 1 have received ; and 
also the Preface to the American edition of my Appeal. Thomp- 
son is here, and superintends the office where it is printed. He 
will soon set up for himself. With all our respects, 

Yours and Mrs. Lindsey's 
most affectionately, 

J. Priestley. 



NO. XII. j 



APPENDIX. 



415 



A LETTER FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON, ESQ., PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES, TO DR. PRIESTLEY, SOON AFTER HIS ELEC- 
TION TO THAT HIGH OFFICE. 
DEAR SIR, Washington, March 21,1 801 . 

I learnt some time ago that you were in Philadelphia, hut that 
it was only for a fortnight, and supposed you were gone. It was 
not till yesterday I received information that you were still there; 
had been very ill, but were on the recovery. I sincerely rejoice 
that you are so. Yours is one of the few lives precious to man- 
kind, and for the continuance of which every thinking man must 
be solicitous; bigots may be an exception. What an effort, my 
dear sir, of bigotry in politics and religion have we gone through ! 
The barbarians really Mattered themselves they should be able to 
bring back the times of Vandalism, when ignorance put every 
thing into the hands of power and priestcraft. All advances in 
science were proscribed as innovations ; they pretended to praise 
and encourage education, but it was to be the education of our 
ancestors ; we were to look backwards, not forwards, for im- 
provement ; the President himself declaring in one of his answers 
to addresses, that we were never to expect to go beyond them in 
real science. This was the real ground of all the attacks upon 
you : those who live by mystery and charlatanerie, fearing you 
would render them useless by simplifying the christian philoso- 
phy, the most sublime and benevolent, but the most perverted 
system that ever shone on man, endeavoured to crush your well- 
earned and well-deserved fame ; but it was the Lilliputians upon 
Gulliver. Our countrymen have recovered from the alarm into 
which art and industry had thrown them ; science and honesty 
are replaced on their high ground ; and you, my dear sir, as 
their great apostle, are on its pinnacle. It is with heartfelt sa- 
tisfaction, that in the first moments of my public action I can 
hail you with welcome to our land, tender you the homage of its 
respect and esteem, cover you under the protection of those laws 
which were made for the wise and the good, like you, and dis- 
claim the legitimacy of that libel on legislation, which, under the 
form of a law, was for some time placed among them. As the 
storm is now subsiding, and the horizon becoming serene, it is 
pleasant to consider the phenomenon with attention. We can 
no longer say there is nothing new under the sun ; for this whole 
chapter in the history of man is new; the great extent of our re- 
public is new ; its sparse habitation is new; the mighty wave of 
public opinion, which has rolled over it, is new ; but the most 
pleasing novelty is its so quickly subsiding, over such an extent 
of surface, to its true level again. The order and good sense 
displayed in this recovery from delusion, and in the momentous 



416 



APPENDIX. 



[no. XII . 



crisis which lately arose, really bespeak a strength of character 
in our nation which augurs well for the duration of our republic. 
And I am much better satisfied now of its stability, than I was 
before it was tried. I have been^ above all things, solaced by 
the prospect which opened on us in the event of a non -election 
of a President * ; in which case the federal government would 
have been in the situation of a clock or Watch run down : there 
was no idea of force, nor of any occasion for it. A Convention, 
invited by the Republican Members of Congress, with the virtual 
President and Vice-President, would have been on the ground in 
eight weeks, would have repaired the constitution where it was 
defective, and wound it up again. This peaceable and legitimate 
resource to which we are in the habit of implicit obedience, su- 
perseding all appeal to force, and being always within our reach, 
shews a precious principle of self-preservation in our composition, 
till a change of circumstances shall take place, which is not 
within prospect at any definite period. But I have got into a 
long disquisition on politics, when I only meant to express my 
sympathy in the state of your health, and to tender you all the 
affections of public and private hospitality. I should be very 
happy indeed to see you here. I leave this about the 30th in- 
stant, to return about the 25th of April ; if you do not leave Phi- 
ladelphia before that, a little excursion hither would help your 
health. I should be much gratified with the possession of a guest 
I so mush esteem, and should claim a right to lodge you, should 
you make such an excursion. Accept the homage of my high 
consideration and respect, and assurances of affectionate attach- 
ment. 

Thomas Jefferson, 
from dr. priestley to mr. lindsey. 

DEAR FRIEND, Northumberland, April 15, 1803. 

1 am happy to hear by Mr. B. that your health is still good ; 
and as his letter is dated the first of February, I hope you have 
got well over the winter. There is hardly any thing that I wish 
for, or think of, more than the continuance of your life and 
health, that you may see the last of my labours, and I may hear 
your opinion of them. On this I have always laid more stress 
than on that of all the world besides ; and if you die before me, 
I shall lose one of my most powerful stimuluses to exertion. As 
to philosophy, I do not now give much attention to it, though I 
do not wholly neglect it. With the good Dr. Heberden, Sir 
John Pringle, and many others, who in early life engaged in phi- 

* The votes of the Senate were for some time equally divided between 
Mr. Jefferson aud Mr. Burr. 



NO. XII.] 



APPENDIX. 



417 



Iosophical pursuits, but were real Christians, I think it natural as 
we draw nearer to a future and better world to think more of it, 
and to have our reading and pursuits directed more than ever to- 
wards it. 

For the same reason I think more of my departed friends, Mrs. 
Rayner, Dr. Price, Dr. Jebb, and others who have been my chief 
friends and benefactors, than before ; forming conjectures (wild 
ones no doubt) concerningour meeting and employment hereafter. 
Such speculations as these have at least the effect to make the 
thoughts of leaving the world, and our friends in it, less un- 
pleasant, indeed sometimes almost desirable. If the disciples of 
Jesus rejoiced so much at his resurrection, what will they do at 
his second coming, in his proper kingdom, and when ail their 
friends will rise again, never to be separated any more ! And the 
firm faith that you and I have that even the wicked, after a state 
of wholesome discipline (and that not more severe than will be 
necessary) will be raised, in due time, to a state of happiness, 
greatly diminishes our concern on their account. 

Such reflections as these occur to me more particularly when 
I am not well, and my thoughts are less occupied with my pur- 
suits. But though I had a pretty long relapse of bad health after 
my last to you, when I thought myself quite well, and to have 
recovered my usual good state of health, I am now again, I thank 
God, pretty well, and nearly as busy as formerly. 

Since I wrote the above I have received a letter from Mr. Jef- 
ferson, on the subject of my pamphlet about Socrates, which I 
will copy, and send it you the next post. I wish I could send 
you all his letters; but they are rather too long to copy, and a 
specimen or two may be sufficient. 

Yours and Mrs. Lindsey's 

most affectionately, 

J. Priestley. 

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON, ESQ., PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES, TO DR. PRIESTLEY, UPON HIS " COMPARATIVE VIEW 
OF SOCRATES AND JESUS," 

1>EAR SIR, Washington, April 9, 1803. 

While on a short visit lately to Monticello, I received from you 
acopyof your Comparative View of Socrates and Jesus, and I avail 
myself of the first moment of leisure after my return to acknow- 
ledge the pleasure I had in the perusal, and the desire it excited to 
see you take up the subject on a more extensive scale. In con- 
sequence of some conversations with Dr. Rush in the years 1798- 
99, I had promised some day to write him a letter, giving him 
my view of the Christian system. I have reflected often on it 
since, and even sketched the outlines in my own mind, 1 should 

2 E 



418 



APPENDIX. 



[NO. XII. 



first take a general view of the moral doctrines of the most re- 
markable of the ancient philosophers, of whose ethics we have 
sufficient information to make an estimate : say, of Pythagoras, 
Epicurus, Epictetus, Socrates, Cicero, Seneca, Antoninus. I 
should do justice to the branches of morality they have treated 
well, but point out the importance of those in which they are de- 
ficient. I should then take a view of the. deism and ethics of the 
Jews, and show in what a degraded state they were, and the ne- 
cessity they presented of a reformation. I should proceed to a 
view of the life, character, and doctrines of Jesus, who, sensible 
of the incorrectness of their ideas of the deity, and of morality, 
endeavoured to bring them to the principles of a pure deism, and 
juster notions of the attributes of God ; to reform their moral 
doctrines to the standard of reason, justice, and philanthropy, 
and to inculcate the belief of a future state. This view would 
purposely omit the question of his divinity, and even of his in- 
spiration. To do him justice, it would be necessary to remark 
the disadvantages his doctrines have to encounter, not having 
been committed to writing by himself, but by the most unletter- 
ed of men, by memory, long after they had heard them from him, 
when much was forgotten, much misunderstood, and presented 
in very paradoxical shapes. Yet such are the fragments remain- 
ing, as to show a master-workman, and that his system of mo- 
rality was the most benevolent and sublime probably that has 
been ever taught, and more perfect than those of any of the an- 
cient philosophers. His character and doctrines have received 
still greater injury from those who pretend to be his special dis- 
ciples, and who have disfigured and sophisticated his actions and 
precepts from views of personal interest, so as to induce the un- 
thinking part of mankind to throw off the whole system in dis- 
gust, and to pass sentence as an impostor on the most innocent, 
the most benevolent, the most eloquent and sublime character 
that ever has been exhibited to man. This is the outline ; but I 
have not the time, and still less the information, which the sub- 
ject needs. It will therefore rest with me in contemplation only. 
You are the person who of all others would do it best, and most 
promptly : you have all the materials at hand ; and you put to- 
gether with case. 1 wish you could be induced to extend your 
late work to the whole subject. I have not heard particularly 
what is the state of your health : but as it has been equal to the 
journey to Philadelphia, perhaps it might encourage the curiosity 
vou must feel to see, for once, this place, which nature has form- 
ed on a beautiful scale, and circumstances destined for a great 
one : as yet we are but a cluster of villages. We cannot offer 
you the learned society of Philadelphia, but you will have that 
of a few characters whom you esteem, and a bed and hearty weir 



NO. XII.] 



APPENDIX. 



419 



come with one who will rejoice in every opportunity of testifying to 
you his high veneration and affectionate attachment. 

Th. Jefferson. 

Dr. Joseph Priestley. 

from dr. priestley to mr. lindsey, containing remarks 
upon mr. Jefferson's letter. 
DEAR FRIEND, Northumberland, April .23," 1803. 

In my last I promised to send you a copy of Mr. Jefferson's 
letter on reading my pamphlet entitled iC Socrates and Jesus 
compared." The above is that copy. He is generally considered 
as an unbeliever : if so, however, he cannot be far from us, and 
I hope in the way to be not only almost, but altogether what, we 
are. He now attends public worship very regularly, and his mo- 
ral conduct was never impeached. I should, on several accounts, 
be glad to make the visit he proposes, but my business will not 
admit of it. If I leave this place, either the printing of my works 
must be intermitted, or I must request the aid of Mr. C, which 
I am not fond of doing ; and though he does his best, I find he 
has not been sufficiently used to the work. 

dr. Priestley's last letters to mr. lindsey, written a 
few weeks before his decease. 

No. 1. 

DEAR FRIEND, Northumberland, Nov. 4, 1803. 

1 cannot now expect to hear often from you, but I shall write 
as usual, as long as you or Mrs. Lindsey are living, provided I be 
living myself. But my health is such that I really do not expect 
to survive you. 1 have now, of several months, the same feelings 
that I had when I formerly had gall-stones ; but at the same time 
I had a difficulty in swallowing, which, as it varied, and sometimes 
disappeared, I hoped was nothing but a spasm in the oesophagus., 
near the entrance into the stomach ; but it is now constant, and 
it is painful to me to swallow any thing ; and if I do not eat very 
slow, all that is in the oesophagus comes up ; and not only that, 
but it fills again from the stomach, and this operation continues 
till the stomach is entirely empty. My guard against this is eat- 
ing very slowly. For the last three months I have not been able 
to eat any flesh meat. I live on broth and vegetables, besides 
milk and mild cheese ; but I take even these with difficulty. 1 
am thankful, however, that excepting while T eat, I have but 
little pain, though while I had gall-stones I had a good deal of 
pain, and sometimes very acute. The first symptom of this dis- 
order I had about a year ago, but sometimes I had nothing of it. 
Of late, however, it has increased very much. But I have abun- 

2 e 2 



420 



APPENDIX. 



[no. XII. 



clant reason to be satisfied vvitli life, and the goodness of God in 
it. Few have had so happy a lot as I have had, and I now see 
reason to be thankful for events which at the time were the most 
afflicting. 

As to my daughter, I cannot grieve on her account. She had 
nothing before her in this life but a prospect of increasing trou- 
ble, and I hope soon to meet her in more favourable circum- 
stances. I am only concerned about the children, and I do not 
know what can be done for theni. My only source of satisfaction, 
and it is a never-failing one, is my firm persuasion that every 
thing, and our oversights and mistakes among the rest, are parts 
of the great plan, in which every thing will in time appear to 
have been ordered and conducted in the best manner. When I 
hear my son's children crying, I consider that we who are ad- 
vanced in life are but children ourselves, and as little judges of 
what is good for ourselves or others. 

As you were pleased with my comparison of Socrates and Jesus, 
I have begun to carry the same comparison to all the heathen 
moralists, and I have all the books that I want for the purpose, 
except Simplicius and Arrian on Epictetus, and them I hope to 
get from a library in Philadelphia : lest, however, I should fail 
there, T wish you or Mr. Belsham would procure and send them 
from London. While 1 am capable of any thing I cannot be idle, 
and I do not know that I can do any thing better. This too is 
an undertaking that Mr. Jefferson recommends to me. 

With every good wish, I am 
Yours and Mrs. Lindsey's 
most affectionately, 

J. Priestley. 

No. 2. 

DEAR SIR, Northumberland, Dec. 19, 1803. 

I am once more made happy by the receipt of yours of the 9th 
of September. I value your letters more than gold, But I am sen- 
sible it is unreasonable to expect them from you, difficult as it 
must now be to you to write. But a single line will suffice. 

I thank God I begin to recover from an illness which has beek 
very near carrying me off. It was ill understood by our physi- 
cians at first, and their prescriptions did me harm \ but now I 
hope I am in a good way, though exceedingly weak, and my feet 
and ancles much swelled from that cause. I live now almost al- 
together on animal food, which I was used to think would never 
agree with me ; but still I cannot eat any fibrous flesh meat, only 
the gelatinous parts, such as calves' feet ; and for some days past 
1 have eat nothing but oysters, which agree with me better than 
-any thing else. On this, and soup or broth, with a dish of tea, 1 live 



NO. XII.] 



APPENDIX. 



421 



altogether. But by this means I am so much recovered, that I 
hope soon to be able to eat as I used to do. I should not, how- 
ever, tire you with my complaints ; but this encourages me to 
hope that I may live a few years longer, so as to finish the work 
I am, printing and composing, which is my utmost wish. 

^Vith the work that I am now composing I go on much faster 
and better than I expected; so that in two or three months, if 
my health continue as it now is, I hope to have it ready for the 
preSs.?*. though 4 -.shall hardly proceed to print it till we have dis- 
patched the Notes. It is upon the same plan with that of <f So- 
crates and Jesus compared/' considering all the more distinguish- 
ed of the Grecian sects of philosophy, till the establishment of 
Christianity in the Roman empire. If you liked that pamphlet, I 
flatter myself you will like this. I hope it is calculated to show, 
in a peculiarly striking light, the great advantage of revelation, 
and that it will make an impression on candid unbelievers, if they 
will read. But I find few that will trouble themselves to read 
any thing on the subject ; which, considering the great magnitude 
and interesting nature of the subject, is a proof of a very impro- 
per state of mind, unworthy of a rational being. 

The next thing I wish to do is to assist in the publication of a 
whole Bible from the several new translations of particular books, 
smoothing and correcting them where I can. I shall propose it 
to some of our booksellers, cheerfully giving my own labour to so 
useful a work. If any thing remain of the subscription to my 
present publication, I shall spend it on others, particularly on the 
Alphabetical Index to the Bible, which has been some time com- 
pletely ready for the press. 

I wish this may come safely to your hands ; but I dread the 
approaching contest, which may throw every thing into confu- 
sion. It has probably taken place before this time. But there 
is a sovereign ruler, and he, we cannot doubt, will bring good out 
of all evil. 

The excellent character and behaviour of my daughter is a 
great consolation to me in the thoughts of her death. 

Hoping still to have the great satisfaction of hearing from you 
a few times more, I am 

Yours and Mrs. Lindsey's 

most affectionately, 

J. Priestley. 

No. 3. 

DEAR FRIEND, Northumberland, Jan. 16, 1804. 

Having just received a box of books from Mr. Johnson, after 
I bad given up all expectation of them, I beg yon would make an 
apology for the impatience I expressed about them, and my dis- 



'422 



APPENDIX. 



[no. XII. 



satisfaction with respect to his conduct. In my situation such 
books are invaluable, especially as my deafness confines me in a 
manner at home, and my extreme weakness prevents my making 
any excursions. Winter also keeps me from my laboratory, so 
that reading and composing are my sole occupation and amuse- 
ment. Here too I have not the convenience of borrowing books. 

This situation, however, is not without its advantages. I have 
abundant leisure, and I have endeavoured to make the most of it. 
I have now finished and transcribed for the press my Comparison 
of the Principles of the Grecian Philosophers with those of Reve- 
lation, and with more ease, and more to my own satisfac- 
tion, than I expected. They who liked my pamphlet entitled 
{e Socrates and Jesus compared" will not, I flatter myself, dis- 
like this work. It has the same object, and completes the scheme. 
It has increased my own sense of the unspeakable value of reve- 
lation, and must, I think, that of every person who will give due 
attention to the subject. 

We are all anxious to hear the result of the threatened inva- 
sion. I have some faint hopes that it will not be undertaken, at 
least upon England. What confusion and distress would it not 
occasion in the most favourable issue ! God preserve you, my 
friend, from the general calamity ! How enviable is our situation 
compared to yours ! Our only consolation must arise from re- 
garding the hand of God in all events, confident that the final 
issue will be right and good. 

Yours and Mrs. Lindsey's 

most affectionately, 

J. Priestley. 

N. B. This is the last letter which Dr. Priestley wrote to his 
venerated and beloved friend. That truly great and excellent 
man, whose active spirit was incessantly engaged in devising or 
performing something for the interest of truth and virtue, was re- 
leased from his labours and sufferings on the 4th of February fol- 
lowing, a little more than a fortnight after writing this letter. 



No. XIII. 

The following is a Catalogue of Mr. Lindsey's Pub- 
lications. 

1. A Farewell Address to the Parishioners of Catterick. 

2. An Apology on resigning the Vicarage of Catterick. 

3. A Sequel to the Apology. 

4. A Sermon preached at the Opening of the Chapel in Essex 
Street, April 17, 1774. 



NO. XIII.] 



APPENDIX. 



423 



5. The Book of Common Prayer Reformed for the Use of the 
Chapel in Essex Street, with Hymns. 

6. A Sermon preached in Essex Street on Opening the New 
Chapel, March 29, 1778. 

7. Two Dissertations. First, On the Preface to St. John's 
Gospel : — Secondly, On Praying to Christ. 

8. The Catechist, or An Inquiry concerning the only true God, 
and Object of Worship. 

9. An Historical View of the State of the Unitarian Doctrine 
and Worship. 

10. Vindic'ice Priestlelance. An Address to the Students of 
Oxford and Cambridge. 

1 1. A Second Address to the same. 

12. An Examination of Mr. Robinson's Plea for the Divinity 
of Christ. 

13. A List of false Readings and Mistranslations of the Scrip- 
tures. 

14. Conversations on Christian Idolatry. 

15. A Sermon on Forms of Prayer. 

16. A Sermon addressed to the Congregation in Essex Street on 
resigning the Pastoral Office among them. 

17. Conversations on the Divine Government, showing that 
every thing is from God and for Good to all. 1802. 

18. Sermons with appropriate Prayers annexed, 2 vols. Print- 
ed for J. Johnson and Co., St. Paul's Churchyard. 



Richard and Arthur Taylor, Pnnlen, Shjt-Lane, London. 



Lately published, Price 3s, 

CHRISTIANITY PLEADING THE PATRONAGE OF THE CIVIL POWER, 
J5UT PROTESTING AGAINST THE AID OF PENAL LAWS. 

CONSIDERED IN 

THREE SERMONS 

PREACHED IN ESSEX STREET CHAPEL, 
BY 

THE REV. THOMAS BELSHAM, 

MINISTER OF THE CHAPEL. 



Fides suadenda est, non imperanda.-— Augnstm. 



London : printed for Rowland Hunter, Successor to Mr. Johnson, No. 72, 
St, Paul's Church-yard, 



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